I would like to refer an item to the March 25, 2024 Ad Hoc Charter Review and Revision Board (the “Charter Review Board”) meeting and the March 20, 2024 Public Safety Neighborhoods and Quality of Life Committee (the “Committee”) to discuss whether the City Charter should be amended to provide for even-year elections to allow for greater participation by the City’s electorate.

Local governments have a significant voter turnout problem in odd-numbered years, which is when elections are held for the election of Mayor and Commissioners in the City.  Turnout is often less than 20% of the electorate, such that local officials are often selected by a small fraction of eligible voters.  In contract, turnout in even-numbered years is often twice the number of voters who participate in odd-numbered years.

After consulting with the City Attorney, I believe the first formal step would be to submit a non-binding, straw ballot question to the voters asking whether the City should initiate the process, with final approval of required Charter amendments subject to voter approval in a subsequent Citywide referendum. I ask that the Charter Review Board promptly make a recommendation to the City Commission as to whether to proceed with a straw ballot well in advance of the County’s deadline to submit ballot questions for the November General Election. The County’s deadline for the November 5, 2024 General Election is July 26, 2024.