Benson County, which switched to a mail-in voting system this year, will consider a request today to open one polling place on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation for the Nov. 2 general election.
The Benson County Commission received the request from the Spirit Lake Nation, which has had three polling places in the past.
The county decided in 2009 to adopt the mail-in voting system this year, according to County Auditor Bonnie Erickson. By law, the county must keep one polling place open. The poll is at the county courthouse in Minnewaukan, N.D.
The switch was made to save money, Erickson said.
The county first tried the system in the June primary election.
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The results showed that the number of voters in the Fort Totten, N.D., precinct dropped by 22, from 60 in the 2008 primary to 38 in 2010.
The Warwick, N.D., precinct showed an increase of seven. Spirit Lake also has a small precinct at Oberon, N.D., which showed no significant difference.
Some Spirit Lake officials said potential voters did not receive mail-in ballot applications for the June primary, so they were not able to vote.
Erickson said the county used its central voter file to obtain addresses. The problem arose, she said, because some people had moved and others use post office boxes rather than mailing addresses at their residences.
Overall, the mail-voting system increased turnout and saved money for the county, Erickson said.
The total number of votes case in Benson County increased by 247 from the June 2008 primary to June 2010, while the cost per vote decreased by $4.97, from $22.87 to $17.90.
If the County Board decides to reinstate one polling place at Spirit Lake, it likely would be at Fort Totten.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m.
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Reach Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 110; or send e-mail to kbonham@gfherald.com .
