Early voting - an expensive proposition?

How expensive is it to provide early voting? Is it worth it?

I voted this morning at the McHenry County Government Center Administration Building about 11:30AM, and I was their first voter of the day. Two women opened the polling place at 8:30AM, so they were there for three hours with nothing to do but eagerly await the first voter.

It will be interesting to learn what it will cost us per-vote. There are early voting places around the County and they will be open for several days over the next two weeks. A minimum of two workers is required for the entire time they are open.

Is the cost worth it? Is there a better way?