New York taxpayers will spend tens of millions of dollars in the upcoming primary, even though President Biden and former President Donald Trump are the presumptive nominees of their respective parties.
The New York City Board of Elections estimates it will cost about $25 million to run the 2024 presidential primary, including eight days of early voting beginning Saturday and the April 2 election.
The BOE says the money will cover costs such as printed ballots, testing voting machines and securing polling places.
Low voter turnout should make it easy for poll workers, who make $250 a day.
Election observers are paid a salary of $350 per day.
Mr. Trump, 77, is considered the Republican nominee and appears set to face Mr. Biden, 81, in November, but other candidates have also entered the primary ballot. This includes candidates who have already suspended their campaign activities.
Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie and Nikki Haley will appear on the Republican ballot alongside President Trump, according to the state election board.
Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson will be on the Democratic ballot along with Biden, but the president is the only one to submit a list of delegates to the convention.
A state BOE spokesperson said canceling a campaign does not automatically remove a name from the ballot.
1,213 polling stations will open from 6 a.m. on April 2, and 143 polling stations will open during the eight-day early voting period.
According to the city board of education, approximately 35,000 poll workers are scheduled to be at polling stations on April 2.
Under a state law passed in 2019, New York requires early voting to occur one week before Election Day.
BOE Deputy Executive Director Vincent Ignizio said personnel costs are by far the biggest expense.
“We will hold responsible elections, as required by law,” Ignizio said.
The Nassau County Board of Elections announced that the primary election will cost $2.5 million.
“It’s the law. We don’t have a choice on this issue,” said Jay Jacobs, state Democratic Party chairman and Nassau County leader.
The cost of conducting the election will likely exceed $50 million statewide, considering what the city and Nassau County alone are paying.
Due to the once-in-a-century coronavirus pandemic, presidential primaries and congressional and state legislative elections were not held until June in 2020.
Many people voted by mail rather than in person due to fear of infection.
Early voting typically lasts nine days. However, because the Easter holiday falls two days before the April 2 primary election, only eight elections will be held this time.
State Conservative Party Chairman Gerald Cassar denounced the policy, which costs taxpayers millions of dollars for unnecessary primaries.
“It’s a waste of money. There has to be a way to cancel the election. There needs to be an escape clause to abolish the primary. Conservatives would support such a change,” Kasser said.
“Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden have clinched the nomination, and other candidates have withdrawn. The $25 million that New York City is spending on hosting a presidential primary is a huge amount. The entire state is doubling that total to 50 million. It can be made into dollars,” he said.
