The following editorial originally appeared in The Seattle Times:
It’s baaaaack. Once again, state lawmakers have introduced legislation to move elections of mayors, city council members and other local leaders to even-numbered years, joining state and federal offices and issues. The goal is to increase voter turnout.
This was a bad idea in the past and, despite some refinements from previous versions, it remains a bad idea.
Local concerns deserve their own space in a crowded marketplace of ideas. Choosing federal office holders, governors, state legislators, city council members and school board members among others — including local and statewide initiatives — all at the same time would swamp even those who follow politics full-time.
House Bill 1339 would permit cities, towns and certain special purpose districts to choose to hold their elections in even-numbered years instead of odd-numbered years.
The prime sponsor is Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac. It’s supported by a slew of groups such as Northwest Progressive Institute, Sightline Institute and Washington Community Alliance.
Those opposed include a couple of folks who know something about elections.
At a hearing last month, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs was joined by Sam Reed, who held the office from 2001 to 2013.
They shared two concerns: voter drop-off and the logistical challenges of counting pages-long ballots.
“There’s voter drop-off as you go further down the ballot. You go from president to state Supreme Court, it’s a 20 percent drop-off. And if you have other races down below, it starts dropping off even further,” Hobbs said. “Because there are multiple pages, there are issues with potential jamming, reconciliation and just voter confusion in general.”
“Voter fatigue is very, very real,” Reed told lawmakers. “Knowing these fire and district commissioners, knowing these town council members, they deserve to have attention. And right now, on the odd year, they are the main candidates out there getting exposure.”
It is why, Reed said, Washington moved local elections to odd years many decades ago.
The Washington State Association of County Auditors has taken a position of “Other — with concerns” on HB 1339.
Among its trepidations: ballot length and voter fatigue, voter confusion and impact on local campaigns as candidates “struggle to compete with high-profile statewide and federal campaigns for voter attention and media coverage,” according to Paul Andrews, WSACA president and Kitsap County Auditor.
HB 1339 passed the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations earlier this month. Last year, a similar measure passed the state House and stalled in the Senate.
Here’s hoping lawmakers listen to election experts and weary voters and keep odd-year elections for local issues and candidates.
