FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2025 
Contact: Stephanie Brooks, 215-407-8582 

PHILADELPHIA – With less than two weeks until the November 2025 General Election, City Controller Christy Brady today released the latest Municipal Money Matters report, focusing on the cost of administering elections in Philadelphia and the relationship between voter turnout and per-vote expenditures. 

The report shows that in Fiscal Year 2025, the Philadelphia City Commissioners’ Office spent almost $41 million to oversee elections and voter registration for more than one million registered voters. These expenditures supported a wide range of services, including voter outreach, multilingual materials, early voting centers, secure drop boxes, and satellite offices. 

During the May 2025 municipal primary election, 176,560 ballots were cast, resulting in a voter turnout rate of almost 17%. Based on the office’s annual budget, the cost per vote in that election was about $115. This figure reflects the high cost of administering elections with low turnout, a trend that has persisted in local primaries. 

By comparison, general elections in 2020 and 2024—when voter turnout exceeded 65%—saw costs per vote plummet, ranging from $16 to $28. Municipal primaries, which typically attract fewer voters, often result in costs exceeding $50 to $115 per ballot cast. 

“Every vote matters and every dollar spent administering elections in our city is an investment in Democracy,” said City Controller Christy Brady. “Our latest report underscores the importance of civic participation—not just for democracy, but for fiscal responsibility. When more Philadelphians vote, the cost per ballot drops, and our investment in elections becomes more efficient. As City Controller, I’m committed to ensuring transparency in how we fund and manage our democratic processes.” 

The cost per vote was estimated by dividing the City Commissioner’s annual budget in half and then dividing the number of ballots cast in each election (primary and general). Costs may reflect spending that can span fiscal years and include special elections. One-time expenses, such as voting machines and grant-funded COVID-related expenses, were not separately accounted for in the analysis. 

Visit https://controller.phila.gov/ to view the City Controller’s October 2025 Municipal Money Matters. 

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