This special election cost taxpayers over $27 million and the winner got just 48 more votes than the loser.
When you vote in a special election, you probably think your ballot counts—and it does, but it might be just one of a handful that decides the outcome. A recent special election for a city council seat in a mid-sized American city cost local taxpayers an eye-popping $27.3 million to administer, yet the margin of victory was just 48 votes out of over 127,000 cast. That means each winning vote effectively cost taxpayers about $568,000. According to a fox news today analysis of local government budgets, the cost of running these low-turnout special elections is passed directly to residents through higher property taxes and city fees. For the average homeowner in that district, this single election added roughly $120 to their annual property tax bill—money that could have gone to fixing potholes or funding the local library. The lesson? Your wallet takes a direct hit when politicians call for these expensive do-overs, so pay close attention to who is pushing for a special election versus waiting for the regular cycle.