Herbert said it doesn't happen often where there are normally scheduled municipal elections at the same time as a special statewide election, and it complicates the process, but hopes a series of 13 directives from his office will settle any confusion.

They also will pay for the election together, with the municipalities expected to kick in nearly $1.5 million of the total $3.5 million cost of running the election.

Many counties already have money set aside to conduct municipal elections in November, and they will be expected to help pay for the Nov. 6 election. The state will pay up to $1.2 million to assist with the election itself.

The state will pay to produce a voter information pamphlet, elections office staffing, and an $800,000 contract with Diebold to provide technical support for the voting machines purchased from the company.

The Western States Presidential Primary, scheduled for Feb. 5, 2008, would likely also cost about $3.5 million, Herbert said, use the touch-screen voting machines and be paid for out of his department's budget. It would leave his office nearly out of money, but he hopes the Legislature will replace the funds.

In his letter to county clerks, Herbert acknowledged the challenges of staging a statewide special election with a municipal election and suggested that "election officials should maintain a healthy sense of humor and professional stature in the face of the strong emotions frequently associated with elections."

- Robert Gehrke