Fiscal Note - SB 0199 - Establishes Pilot Voter Information Project For Certain Elections
L.R. NO. 0969-01
BILL NO. SB 199
SUBJECT: Elections: Secretary of State
TYPE: Original
DATE: January 27, 1997
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
General Revenue ($134,184) ($134,184) $0
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
State Funds ($134,184) ($134,184) $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Local Government $0 $0 $0
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the Office of Secretary of State (SOS) stated the following four
areas would be chosen to represent urban and rural voters and would be near
state universities who would assist in the development of the report required
to be delivered to the General Assembly. The four pilot areas selected are
Kansas City (207,087 registered voters), Boone County (95,794 voters), Cape
Girardeau County (41, 280 voters), and Lincoln County (19,670 voters).
Current totals of registered voters equal 363,831. Officials assume that by
the 1998 elections, the total number of registered voters would be 365,000.
Based on cost estimates submitted by Boone County election authorities, the
following cost per 1000 registered voters were figured to be $230.64. The
cost estimates covers envelopes, paper, ballot printing, postage, computer,
labor mailroom, and sorting. Total estimated voting cost for one election
would be $84,184 for 365,000 voters. This proposal calls for the sample
ballot to be mailed and statistical analysis to be performed for both the
November 1998 and April 1998 elections, which would double the cost from
$84,184 to $168,368, ($84,184 x 2 elections).
Officials stated that to evaluate the effect of the sample ballot on voter
knowledge and turnout, and to compile and submit a report of the same to
designated bodies or officials would require professional statistical
expertise. Officials assume that the Center for Advanced Social Research at
the University of Missouri, which has done several surveys for state
government would assist in this part of the project. Cost estimates
submitted by University staff for questionnaire design, programming,
stratified random sample selection, telephone interviews, WATS line costs,
statistical analysis of the data, and the final report including the
electronic data file, would be $50,000 per election. Total report costs for
2 elections would be $100,000.
Officials assume that the total would be $168,368 for election costs and
$100,000 for study and report costs or $268,368 for 2 elections to be held in
FY98 and FY99.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
Cost - Secretary of State
Election - Reimbursement
to certain counties ($84,184) ($84,184) $0
Cost - Secretary of State
Evaluation Report - University
of Missouri* ($50,000) ($50,000) $0
Total Cost to Secretary of State ($134,184) ($134,184) $0
NET EFFECT TO
GENERAL REVENUE FUND ($134,184) ($134,184) $0
*This proposal could have a positive fiscal impact to the Center for Advanced
Social Research at the University of Missouri which might be offset by some
administrative costs. For the purposes of this fiscal note, no fiscal impact
is reflected for the University of Missouri.
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Income to Certain Counties
Election Expense Reimbursement
From Secretary of State $84,184 $84,184 $0
Cost to Certain Counties
Election Expenses ($84,184) ($84,184) $0
NET EFFECT TO CERTAIN COUNTIES $0 $0 $0
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of
this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This act would establish a pilot program to provide notice of elections to
voters by mail. This act is similar to SB 583 (1996).
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other
program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental
space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Secretary of State
This Fiscal Note is not an official copy and should not be quoted or cited.