By Lindsay VanHulle
lvanhulle@record-eagle.com
May 09, 2008 04:00 am INTERLOCHEN -- By law, the election inspectors had to keep the precinct open from dawn until dusk. But after more than 12 hours, not one of the four registered voters from Green Lake Township filled out a ballot for the Buckley school election. So the three inspectors assigned to the township hall in Interlochen had to find ways to pass the time while waiting for someone to show up. "We were paid for almost a 14-hour day, and we just basically sat and read magazines and visited," said Judi Kramer, the precinct's election chairperson. "To me, it was just a big waste of money, especially when you have an economy like it is now." The issue, Kramer and other local election coordinators said, isn't that staffing a precinct for four voters is a waste. It's that Buckley Community Schools will need to cover the cost itself, since it's the only school system in the township to hold its election in May. Traverse City and Kingsley school districts, both of which have voters in Green Lake Township, moved their elections to coincide with the November general election in part to cut costs. But since Buckley still holds its vote in May, the district will have to incur at least $440 to cover the precinct, a figure that could rise to nearly $500 once the final cost is tabulated. Buckley voters in the county also cast ballots in Grant and Mayfield townships. School board President David Buck, who was re-elected to the board Tuesday, said discussions were held before the election about combining polling sites in Green Lake and Grant townships, but it didn't work out. The district is not against moving to a November vote, but school leaders previously hadn't seen the need to make the switch, Buck said. "We got overwhelming support from our community, so the fact that those few voters didn't participate probably isn't a big deal," he said. Superintendent Steve Prissel was out of town at a conference and did not return a call seeking comment. Running an election isn't cheap, township Clerk Rita Dinger said, and it concerns her that the district did not follow its neighbors to save itself -- and taxpayers -- money. They certainly tried to get voters. Two of the four who are registered requested applications for absentee ballots, but never returned the forms, Dinger said. "They could switch the date," she said. "It's costing them for this election, where they could be cost-sharing. I don't understand it."
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