New York City Elections Are Becoming Ever More Costly

It’s often been said that democracy can be messy. In New York City, it’s also increasingly expensive, especially the way the Board of Elections operates.

Just look at the numbers.

Between 2000 and 2010, the board’s total budget more than doubled, to $96 million from $44 million. A glance at the raw figures since then suggests even more startling growth: Between 2010 and 2012 alone, the board’s budget for just personnel also more than doubled, to $58 million from $27 million.

That increase turns out to be something of a statistical glitch, though. The city’s Independent Budget Office says it stems from a different way of classifying the costs of the 35,000 or so poll workers (who make $200 a day in a typical citywide election) and their 2,400 supervisors (who make $300 a day).

The pay of those part-time workers used to be allocated to “other than personal services.” Now, their pay is included in the total personnel services budget for all board employees.

Bt as a result, you’d think the budget for “other” would have plunged commensurately since the new classification took effect after 2010. No way.

Since 2010, the budget for “other than personal services” did drop, but only to $52 million from $69 million. Meanwhile, the payroll doubled and the board’s total budget rose 15 percent, to $110 million from $96 million.

Why The answer would be mind-boggling in any other agency. The budget office explains that the board’s recent switch from mechanical voting machines to modern electronic ones resulted in increased printing costs. So much for the paperless office.

The old machines each required one large facsimile of the ballot. The new ones scan paper ballots from every voter.

Theoretically, more voters mean a lower cost per vote (now easily about $30). But that depends on who’s counting. In 2012, flooded polling places from Hurricane Sandy caused complications that delayed the board’s official count in the preside! ntial race for nearly eight weeks.

Even under normal conditions, though, the board is often criticized for delays and widespread ineptitude. After November’s voting, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg labeled the process “a disgrace” and said, “We don’t have a system for the 21st century.”

The board did not respond to requests for comment.