Costly choices

As the U.S. enters an election year that includes every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and many other key races, two special elections -- in Hawaii and Massachusetts -- are grabbing considerable attention.

In Hawaii, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, plans to resign at the end of February so he can campaign full time in his bid to become the state's next governor. Hawaii law provides for the governor to call a special election no less than 70 days after the vacancy. But the the division of elections doesn't have the nearly $1 million needed for a special mail-in election in the current fiscal year, which goes through June. There is push, including editorials by the state's leading newspaper, to find a way to hold the election quickly, perhaps with federal funding assistance. Hawaii has two House districts.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts is voting Tuesday in a special election to choose a senator to fill the vacancy left by the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy. Massachusetts in September revised its law to allow for an interim appointment, currently held by a longtime Kennedy aide who is not a candidate in the special election.

Both states are playing an expensive game of political jockeying. As states deal with massive revenue woes, wouldn't it make sense to limit special elections to regular election dates to cut down on expenses?