PEA RIDGE — With only one candidate for the Pea Ridge School Board this election season, the Pea Ridge School District saved upwards of $3,000, according to the Benton County Election Commission.
Pea Ridge City Clerk Sandy Button ran unopposed for School Board. The election was Sept. 18.
According to the Benton County Clerk’s Office, since only one person was running there was still a name on the ballot, but all voting was done via absentee voting or by early voting through the County Clerk’s office.
There was no need to have polling sites open on election day, eliminating funds spent to cover the site and its workers.
Kim Dennison of the Election Commission said each site for a School Board election generally consists of six workers, plus an election sheriff.
The sheriff is paid $10 per hour, and additional workers are paid $8 per hour. All workers are paid for a total of 13 hours.
The school districtwould also be responsible for paying for the use of election machines and all programming costs, along with any supplies used for the election.
There are two polling sites inside the district, Dennison said.
Button needed to receive one vote in order to be elected.
News, Pages 1 on 09/19/2012