Election board recommends mail-in system

March 4, 2009 Board members made the recommendation on Wednesday after the special primary to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel.

Board chairman Langdon Neal say the city spent $1.75 million on an election where turnout in Chicago was just 18 percent.

"In the city of Chicago alone, this election cost about $33 per ballot cast," said Langdon Neal, Chicago Election Board Chairman.

Neal says shifting to the mail-in system currently in the states Oregon and Washington would save money and could boost voter turnout as well.