Registrar warns budget cut to poll‑worker funding could strain early voting

Peter Gaston, representing the registrars, told the Committee on Administrative Finance that the registrars’ FY27 request rose modestly but the mayor’s proposal cuts professional services by nearly $50,000 and trims equipment funding. Gaston said those professional services pay poll workers and that expanded early voting — now 14 days in November plus additional days in August — substantially increases staffing needs.

Gaston noted the city received $21,000 from a prior state early‑voting allocation; he said a larger state distribution could mitigate the reduction but that the registrar’s office remains concerned the cut will leave the office understaffed for two multi‑site early‑voting centers and the extended schedule. He estimated running early‑voting operations and associated overtime and staffing costs at tens of thousands of dollars and asked the committee to consider restoring the line.

Committee members pressed for details about overtime, whether tabulator maintenance and ballot programming costs will be covered, and the number of temporary staff the office must hire; Gaston said tabulator maintenance and programming are now a municipal responsibility and that the office expects to hire between 170 and 200 poll workers on peak days and staff two early‑voting sites across multiple days.

The committee did not take a final vote on restoring the line and tabled related budget items for further review, asking election staff to provide clarity on projected costs and any available state reimbursements.