INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – Tuesday’s special election to fill the vacant 23rd State Senate District seat cost taxpayers more than a million dollars.

Based on voter turnout that’s not expected to exceed 16 percent, it cost $15 per ballot cast to conduct the election.

San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Michael Scarpello says the bill adds up “including the number of ballots we order, the number of polling places and poll workers. We try to be as efficient as we can while providing convenience for the voter.”

Polling places were set up in San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties. Only 2 percent of the registered voters actually went to the polls. Most ballots were mailed in.

Legislation proposed at Sacramento would require the state to reimburse the counties for the cost of special elections for state Senate, state Assembly and for Congress.

State Assemblyman Mike Morrell won Tuesday's election to replace former senator Bill Emmerson who quit last November.

Morrell said Wednesday he will vacate his Assembly seat sometime after April 4th. He expects the post will remain vacant until the November election.

Story Date: March 30, 2014