Santa Barbara voters will soon be casting their ballots almost exclusively by mail... As the result of irreconcilable differences with county elections officials over the cost of city elections — which are held in off-years — Santa Barbara city officials opted to go their own way in 2007, hiring outside consultants to count votes. While that effort was $220,000 cheaper than what the county would have charged, city officials reckon they can save $50,000 more with mail-in elections... Councilmembers Das Williams and Dale Francisco opposed the measure, while Iya Falcone abstained... Under the mail-in system, voters would have a month to fill out ballots and mail them in. City Hall would maintain seven polling places...

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For full text, please go to:

The Santa Barbara Independent: "Mail Vote for City Elections," by Nick Welsh