Elections: Estimated election costs for cities

Continued from Page 3 in a committee meeting it would also sign with Fulton County to conduct its 2023 municipal elections. Councilmembers had been split over the idea days earlier at a workshop.

Alpharetta was scheduled to hold a March 20 City Council workshop to discuss cost estimates for running its own polling this November. Cost estimates for an Alpharetta municipal election this year have been drafted, and it is based on a varying number of polling locations. At most, the city is looking to spend around $300,000 for three locations.

Roswell backs out

During a March 14 Administration and Finance and Recreation and Parks Committee meeting, Roswell City Councilman Mike Palermo said the city does not have enough time to weigh all the cost variables to reach an informed decision by the county’s March 31 deadline.

Roswell requires two readings for the agreement with Fulton County, so the city plans to have a special-called meeting for the measure sometime in late March.

“The fact that we’re in mid-March and there is so much work that needs to be done — there’s so many unknowns,” Palermo said. “I just feel that it’s more realistic to really explore this in 2025.”

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson added another motion for the council to “formally commit” to run municipal elections in 2025. The council forwarded the measure to the next scheduled City Council meeting.

Wilson attempted to add a third motion, which would have committed the City Council to appoint an election committee by September, but it drew little support from the council.

Councilwoman Lee Hills, who has been a strong advocate for local control, said she was disappointed to see the city abandon its efforts this year.

“It’s unfortunate that this conversation is going in a direction that is not doing this in 2023, but I could not be more elated that it sounds like we’ve got great support for running our own municipal elections,” she said.

Earlier estimates show that Roswell planned to spend $362,822 for 21 polling locations. There was also a proposal based on 12 locations estimated for $320,648.

Johns Creek takes a lesson

While Johns Creek is out of the self-run election drive this year, City Councilman Chris Coughlin is ready for 2025.

In an effort to save on costs they pay Fulton County to run their municipal elections, North Fulton cities have compiled estimates for what it would cost to run their own polling. Right now, there is no final figure from the county, but latest estimates indicate the cities will pay twice the amount they paid the county to run the 2021 municipal elections.

Here is a rundown of the latest figures from cities:

*Roswell Also Had Another Proposal That Estimated $320,648 For 12 Polling Locations Note: Sandy Springs does not have municipal elections this year

Coughlin presented a five-page memo at the Johns Creek City Council March 14 work session detailing variables a city elections task force should consider upon its formation. The idea of a task force was introduced Feb. 28 by Mayor John Bradberry at a City Council meeting in which a few residents voiced a desire to take on the project.

Coughlin outlined three variables, including runoff voting, timing of elections and number of precincts.

For example, Coughlin mentioned the prospect of instant runoff voting, which remains stalled in the Legislature.

Instant runoff voting provides for ballots to include “top choices” for voters, eliminating the need for a runoff election in cases where one candidate fails to garner more than 50 percent of the tally. Johns Creek has already passed a measure to allow the practice if and when it clears the Legislature.

Instant runoff voting, Coughlin said, could save the city from 25 to 40 percent in election costs, and it would encourage more turnout and statistical power for voters.

Not everyone on the council was on board with the instant runoff proposal, however, but they agreed it warranted further study.

“I’m not necessarily sold on any of it,” Mayor Bradberry said. “I do think that there is optimism to think that maybe we could save money … but again, the devil’s in the details.”

— Staff reporter Delaney Tarr contributed to this story.