Spring elections on way out?

Between ballots, poll workers and training, local non-partisan elections cost millions of dollars in Wisconsin every spring.

"I spoke to a town official in Langlade County who said, 'Gosh, we have an election cost of $500 to $1000 and we had 17 people show up to the February primary,'" said state Sen. Jim Holperin, D-Eagle River.

Holperin is one of two legislators, along with state Rep. Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, introducing a bill to combine those elections with partisan elections in November. The hope is to improve voter turnout and cut costs.

It is unclear how much moving spring elections would actually save because those state and local elections happen every year and November elections are only held every other.

"One thing we have considered is running an election every November rather than every other November," said Holperin. "Now that would really only save half the cost, because you're only eliminating one election.

Brown County Supervisor, Pat Evans, says election costs are a small price for democracy and that voter turnout should not limit the number of elections.

"People exercise their right to vote in two ways," said Evans. "Either they vote or they don't vote. They're still exercising their right and either way is fine... Limiting the amount of elections is just another way for the government to take away the freedom of the people. I am completely against that."

Changing the law would require amending the state constitution. In order for the proposal to take effect it would have to pass the legislature in two consecutive sessions as well as a public referendum. That would likely take three years.