Brian Newby, the Election Commissioner for Johnson County, Kansas, gave a presentation to the Rotary Club of Western Johnson County about elections in Johnson County. Some key points: - Johnson County has nearly 380,000 registered voters across 494 precincts served by up to 286 voting locations on election days. - Two-thirds of Johnson County's elections are special elections, with turnout typically higher for special elections than for regular spring elections. - Advance voting has increased and brings cost efficiencies, but also requires rental costs for locations. Recruiting polling locations and election workers is also becoming increasingly difficult.

1. Presentation to
Rotary Club
of Western Johnson County
Brian D. Newby
Election Commissioner
Johnson County, Kansas
www.ElectionDiary.com
www.jocoelection.org
http://my.jocopolo.com
May 5, 2015

2. 4
Johnson County, Kansas
Est. Population 570,000 Registered Voters 368,124
Registered Voters 350,000
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015

3. 3
Johnson County Election Office By The Numbers
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Staff Members:
16 Full‐time
Employees, up to
250 part‐time
Voters:
Nearly 380,000
Registered voters
Precincts: 494
Voting
Locations:
Up to 286; 182
for 2014Voting
Machines:
2,407
Unique
Ballots:
More
than
1,500
Advance Voting
Locations: 4

4. Johnson County Statistics
Registered Voters Total Voted Turnout %
Year JoCoPop Growth% November Growth% November Growth% November Trend
1960 143,792 77,420 65,033 84%
1964 177,137 23% 84,059 9% 72,483 11% 86% 2%
1968 212,245 20% 100,610 20% 88,314 22% 88% 2%
1972 231,933 9% 120,407 20% 104,136 18% 86% -1%
1976 243,953 5% 140,956 17% 117,040 12% 83% -3%
1980 266,489 9% 155,769 11% 125,637 7% 81% -2%
1984 283,666 6% 169,773 9% 141,715 13% 83% 3%
1988 328,537 16% 185,727 9% 155,267 10% 84% 1%
1992 374,801 14% 222,815 20% 197,265 27% 89% 5%
1996 411,635 10% 246,497 11% 192,202 -3% 78.0% -11%
2000 451,086 10% 312,788 27% 218,486 14% 70% -8%
2004 496,691 10% 348,552 11% 259,599 19% 75% 5%
2008 532,215 7% 364,441 5% 285,001 10% 78.2% 3%
2012 551,529 4% 383,491 5% 275,674 -3% 72% -6%
5Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015

5. Johnson County
Residents Have
High Expectations
Related to Elections
Elections are among the
more highly regarded
services provided by the
county.
Johnson County’s Growth
Creates Scale Issues…
This leads to many cost drivers related to
elections. Bottom line, elections are
expensive because they involve, in the
case of Johnson County voters, more than
370,000 participants.
1
3
4
Each Election is Unique
As we consider moving elections, it’s worth stressing
that all elections come with their own nuances of
candidates, candidate rotation, numbers of candidates
constituting a primary, and the best way to conduct the
election (mail or polls), just to name some of the
unique items.
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Two Thirds of Johnson County’s
Elections are Unscheduled
We’ve had 60 election in the last 10 years; 40 of them
were special elections and spring primaries.
5
Elections Vary in Complexity
With more than 1,500 types of ballots in
an August election in Johnson County.
2
Election Business Drivers

6. Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Turnout for Special Elections Is Greater Than
Regular Spring Elections
We’ve seen this in Roeland Park special elections and in
mail-ballot elections.
6
Election Business Drivers

7. Blue Valley USD #229 2/1/2005 43.80%
Gardner-Edgerton USD #231 2/1/2005 51.50%
Spring Hill USD #230 2/1/2005 55.80%
City of Gardner 6/7/2005 51.30%
Spring Hill USD #230 6/19/2007 42.55%
De Soto USD #232 9/18/2007 45.58%
Olathe USD #233 10/16/2007 29.96%
City of Overland Park 1/29/2008 35.15%
City of Lenexa 5/27/2008 31.86%
City of Fairway 11/3/2009 41.41%
City of Merriam 1/26/2010 36.14%
City of De Soto 2/1/2011 39.43%
Spring Hill USD #230 6/7/2011 46.93%
City of Mission 12/6/2011 38.56%
Blue Valley USD #229 1/31/2012 38.59%
Gardner-Edgerton USD #231 1/31/2012 41.36%
Olathe - USD #233 6/11/2013 31.32%
City of Overland Park 10/8/2013 30.92%
City of Olathe 11/12/2013 32.46%
City of Roeland Park 12/10/2013 34.94%
City of Fairway 5/13/2014 39.36%
LOB USDs 229,231,232,233,512 1/27/2015 30.93%
Johnson County Question 9/27/2005 13.00%
City of Roeland Park Special Election 6/23/2009 24.90%
City of Roeland Park Special Election 2/14/2012 11.18%
City of Roeland Park Special Election 5/13/2014 23.44%
City of Roeland Park Special Election 12/9/2014 26.33%
City General Election 2011 4/5/2011 9.76%
City General Election 2012 4/5/2012 11.02%
City General Election 2013 4/2/2013 7.98%
City General Election 2014 4/1/2014 9.61%
City General Election 2015 4/7/2015 10.01%
Turnout for Mail Ballot Elections Turnout for Special Elections
Turnout for Spring General Elections
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Special Elections – Higher Turnout
The lowest turnout for a special election
over the last 10 years is still greater than
the April turnout the last five years.

8. Privacy, Identity Theft
Remain Voter Concerns
Voters are reacting to frequent identity
theft reports by refusing to sign ballot
envelopes and questioning record and
website security. Election Office
responses to these issues have new
budget implications.
Recruitment of Polling Locations and
Election Workers is Increasingly Difficult
Schools are almost always unavailable. More persons are
being required as agents, reducing potential election
worker pool.
8
7
“Study: Credit Card Breach
Fears Haunt Consumers'
Holiday Shopping Plans”
Forbes Headline
December 4, 2014
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Turnout for Special Elections Is Greater Than
Regular Spring Elections
We’ve seen this in the Roeland Park’s special elections and
in mail-ballot elections.
6
Election Business Drivers

9. Polling Places Are Less Available
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015

10. Polling Places Are Less Available
2/25/14 4/1/14 8/5/14 11/4/14
ABM Gym X X X X
BVA Gym X X X X
BVM Gym X X
HMS Gym X
LKM Gym X X X
LMS Gym Foyer X X
OTM Gym X
OMS South Foyer X
PRM Gym X
PSM Gym
BVH Front Foyer
BVN Aux Gym X X X X
BVNW Library Foyer X
BVSW Aux Gym X
BVW Aux Gym X X X X
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015

11. ADOPT-A-POLLING PLACE
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
THE ADOPT-A-POLLING PLACE PROGRAM:
• Provides community organizations and businesses the opportunity to be part of the elections process
• Raises funds for your worthy causes
• Each participating organization or business “adopts” a specific Polling Place or multiple Polling Places
for each election cycle by providing the personnel to staff the polling place(s)
• The Election office will display a sign in your polling place with your organization or business’ name
• Your organization’s name will be added to our distinguished list of Community Partners, in our office, to
highlight your contribution to this community
HOW MUCH CAN YOU EARN?
• In 2016, average fully staffed polling place earnings will be $1,265 per election
• In 2016 there will be four elections which means your organizations potential would be $5,060 fully
staffing one polling place in every election

12. Privacy, Identity Theft
Remain Voter Concerns
Voters are reacting to frequent identity
theft reports by refusing to sign ballot
envelopes and questioning record and
website security. Election Office
responses to these issues have new
budget implications.
Recruitment of Polling Locations and
Election Workers is Increasingly Difficult
Schools are almost always unavailable. More persons are
being required as agents, reducing potential election
worker pool.
8 9
Advance Voting Brings Cost Efficiencies,
Introduces Other Cost Issues
With Ballot-on-Demand printing and maximum utilization
of voting machines, advance voting maximizes the return
on investment. Advance voting, though, is becoming more
important because of limited polling place availability, and
rent becomes a high and necessary expense.
7
“Study: Credit Card Breach
Fears Haunt Consumers'
Holiday Shopping Plans”
Forbes Headline
December 4, 2014
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Turnout for Special Elections Is Greater Than
Regular Spring Elections
We’ve seen this in the Roeland Park’s special elections and
in mail-ballot elections.
6
November 2010 November 2012 November 2014
67,682 115,020
62,098
114,630 154,785
128,829
Advance In-Person
Election Business Drivers

13. 13
Highest Participation, 2005-15
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Election Ballots Counted Voter Turnout
1 2008 Fall General 285,001 78 %
2 2012 Fall General 275,674 72 %
3 2014 Fall General 194,052 51 %
4 2006 Fall General 187,379 55 %
5 2010 Fall General 184,834 51 %
6 2005 Spring General 98,799 30 %
7 2015 LOB Mail Ballot (In process) 62,581 31 %
8 2005 Special Election 43,395 13 %
9 2007 Spring General 40,853 12 %
10 2008 City of Overland Park Special 38,569 35 %

14. 14
2014 November Turnout Was Similar to 2010
Highest Participation, 2005-15
Brian D. Newby, May 5, 2015
Election Ballots Counted Voter Turnout
1 2008 Fall General 285,001 78 %
2 2012 Fall General 275,674 72 %
3 2014 Fall General 194,052 51 %
4 2006 Fall General 187,379 55 %
5 2010 Fall General 184,834 51 %
6 2005 Spring General 98,799 30 %
7 2015 LOB Mail Ballot (In process) 62,581 30 %
8 2005 Special Election 43,395 13 %
9 2007 Spring General 40,853 12 %
10 2008 City of Overland Park Special 38,569 35 %

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