CHESS researchers publish new book on the costs of running Elections in the US

“Election administration is easy, right? It’s just counting ballots.” 

UNC Charlotte researchers from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences have just authored a new book entitled “A Republic If You Can Afford It: How Much Does It Cost to Administer Elections?,” which was published by the Cambridge University Press in the Elements in Campaigns and Elections series. 

The new book offers a deep dive into the practices and costs of running elections locally and in 48 of the 50 United States, with costs ranging through states from just over $2 to around $20 per registered voter. The data examines the cost per registered voter and identifies trends based on election years, economics, and helps the public better understand how elections work in the United States.

The book is co-authored by political scientists and public administration researchers Zachary Mohr (formerly of UNC Charlotte), Martha E. Kropf, Mary Jo McGowan, and JoEllen V. Pope, who is a doctoral graduate of UNC Charlotte.

The text is available for a free download now through December 30.