View Proposed BOEE Special Election Voting Centers in a larger map

New D.C. Councilmember Sekou Biddle’s ascension to the at-large seat vacated by Council Chair Kwame Brown was sealed in a kitchenette. Biddle’s attempt to hang on to the seat in April’s special election might similarly be decided in a relatively small number of spaces — that is, unless the District can come up with an extra $250,000. Freeman Klopott reports this afternoon that the city’s Board of Elections and Ethics may only be able to open 16 voting centers, two in each ward, for the April special election, unless leaders can scrounge up some extra coin. In a typical election in the District, BOEE takes votes in 143 precincts across the city.

Historically, turnout in D.C. special elections is low, but this year’s campaign features several candidates and a groundswell of organic anger about the way that the system is set up. The BOEE suggestion will certainly stoke the latter’s fires — those who already believe that the replacement process is rigged toward insiders and cronies will certainly have an issue with the literal reduction in places where the public can vote.

Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), chair of the Council’s government operations committee, will hold a public hearing on January 19 to discuss the city’s options for raising funds.