News
By Kathleen Meyers
|
March 3, 2004
City Council elections could move from May to November after Charlottesville City General Registrar Sheri Iachetta recommended the shift to Council at a meeting Monday night.
Iachetta's report came after Council requested in early January that the Registrar's Office compose a task force to consider the possible ramifications of moving Council elections, currently held in May, to November, when they would coincide with the general election.
"The six-member task force met and evaluated all material given to us by City Council and recommended to move elections to November of odd-numbered years," Iachetta said.
Primarily, the task force concluded that Charlottesville registered voters would be more likely to vote in Council elections in November at the same time as the general elections.
Voter turnout in May has hovered consistently around 22 percent the past three election years, while voter turnout for the general election in November drew 45 percent of Charlottesville's registered voters in 2002, Iachetta told Council.
In addition, University students, who represent a sizeable portion of Charlottesville registered voters, are more likely to vote in November than around exam time in May.
"I think that moving Council elections to November is a good idea because our main goal is to increase voter turnout and voter participation, which is statistically higher in November," Iachetta said.
By holding Council elections during the general election rather than having two separate elections during the year, the task force estimated the City would save $32,000 in poll costs, Iachetta said.
"Moving Council elections is fiscally responsible in a tight budget cycle," she said.
Iachetta also noted that holding Council elections on the same day as the general election would reduce scheduling and set-up interference at the local elementary schools that serve as polling centers, because schools are closed for November elections.
Iachetta and the task force also reported that holding Council elections on the pre-existing general election day would reduce the strain on the handful of election officials that run local polls throughout the year.
The task force also determined that November elections would be beneficial for local candidates.
"November elections present Council candidates with the option of campaigning along with statewide office candidates and raise the visibility of candidates who are running for local office," said Ken Stroupe, the University's Center for Politics chief of staff and task force member.
The task force modeled its recommendation after Richmond, which moved its City Council elections to the November general election day in 2002, Iachetta told Council.
After Iachetta's presentation, Council moved to hold a public hearing on permanently rescheduling Council elections in June, once Council's new members take their seats following the upcoming elections in May.
"I think it is a little premature to call a public hearing now," Council member Blake Caravati said at Monday's Council meeting.
