Lawmakers could change rules to save counties with special elections
Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the Sept. 4, 2010, Sacramento Bee.
California’s legislators talk a good game about saving taxpayer money. But handed a common-sense chance to do just that, they have completely flubbed it.
The secretary of state’s office, the California Association of Counties and county officials could not find a single lawmaker – not one – willing to step forward and carry legislation to allow mail-only balloting for a Jan. 4 special election in the 1st Senate District.
With minimal impact on voters, that change could save the dozen cash-strapped counties in the district hundreds of thousands of dollars, including an estimated $250,000 in Sacramento County and $55,000 in El Dorado County.