Legislative leaders said that they would come up with the money. Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said they're waiting for more details. "The discussion is ongoing," Valentine said.

One option that's being talked about is dipping into the $3.35 million already allocated for next year's presidential primary on Feb. 5. "That's a pretty easy solution," Valentine said.

Demma said pitches will be made later this month to both the Republican and Democratic legislative caucuses to make sure lawmakers are comfortable with that option — and that that money will be replenished in time to pay for the Feb. 5 presidential primary.

"We're all in kind of new territory here, figuring it out," said Brian Thompson, Utah County clerk and auditor. Thompson said it's only fair that the state make up the difference, since municipalities had no idea they needed to budget for a statewide election.

"It's really not fair for the cities," Thompson said. "They are the ones caught up in the middle of this."

Now costs will go up in cities like Morgan, where leaders budgeted just $2,000 for the November general election. City leaders budgeted so low because they planned to use paper ballots, said Lincoln Shurtz, legislative analyst for the Utah League of Cities and Towns.