Wake County commissioners made it clear Monday night in a 4-3 vote that a sales tax increase to pay for transportation projects is not likely to be in the hands of voters this November. They declined to schedule a public hearing that would lead the way for putting a half cent sales tax on the November ballot. If commissioners happen to change their minds, what would it take for that item to wind up on your ballot? Board of Elections Director Cheri Poucher said it’s not as simple as adding an item. At the very latest, commissioners would have to decide to add it to the ballot by the end of July, but all the special paper for ballots needs to be ordered by the end of this month.
… The double sided ballot is already the longest in county history, and is the maximum allowed, 19 inches long. Poucher said there is no space for the tax hike, so a second ballot would be needed if the tax hike was added. She said the Board of Elections cannot change to a smaller font size, because there are standards. That would double the cost, requiring printing an extra million ballots, at 15 cents each. That’s an extra $150,000.
Full Article: REALITY CHECK: The cost of adding an item to a ballot | NBC17.com.