Auditor: State should provide up-front funding for election

State Auditor Suzanne Bump sent a letter today urging Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders to provide up-front funding to cities and towns to cover the local costs of the upcoming special primary and general elections for U.S. Senate.

Bump estimated the statewide cost to be $8.2 million.

“[W]ithout up-front funding, communities would be forced to divert monies already dedicated to other purposes to finance this unforeseen event,” she wrote. “Given that the Commonwealth’s reimbursement to municipalities for the costs of extended polling hours is largely provided in advance of the statewide biennial elections, pursuant to Chapter 503 of the Acts of 1983, this is not an unusual request.”

Bump pointed out that the Division of Local Mandates, which is part of her office, determined in 2009 that the state law governing special elections imposed a state mandate subject to the provisions of the local mandates law.

The Legislature has sent to the governor a bill (H. 53) that would set the state primary for April 30 and the state election for June 25. The governor is expected to sign the bill.

• Download letter from Auditor Bump calling for state funding of special election costs (88K PDF)