March 28, 2024

Deignan Questions Cost of Early Voting

Posted

Rehoboth Selectman Michael Deignan would like to do away with early voting, citing the cost and the strain on employees in the town clerk’s office.

Town Clerk Laura Schwall noted the cost for two weeks of early voting, which was held from October 22 through November 4, was more than $12,000.

The salaries Schwall was required to pay on Election Day was not included in that amount.

“It’s just nuts to me,” Deignan said.

“My personal feeling is it should be four or five days including a Saturday, maybe even a Sunday,” Schwall said. “Let them come when it’s convenient for them within that time, but not two weeks. Two weeks is just too long.”

Deignan noted the town provides absentee ballots for those residents unable to come to the polls on Election Day.

“Perhaps a small period of early voting should exist (a few days before election day) to give those people who work during the week a chance to vote over the weekend, in person,” Deignan said Tuesday. “But this current structure where they have almost 2 weeks of early voting is not only a financial drain (which the taxpayers have to foot the bill for), but a personnel drain on our election workers and the Town Clerk's staff.”

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