The state Senate on Monday passed a bill that would require cities and towns to have their elections on the same day as statewide elections. (West Virginia Legislative Photography)
A bill advancing in the West Virginia Legislature would require local municipalities to hold their elections on the same day as statewide elections.
The Senate on Monday unanimously approved Senate Bill 50. A similar bill, House Bill 2422, is pending before the House of Delegates Government Organization and Local Governments committees.
The Senate bill, as it is now, would give West Virginia cities and towns until 2032 to change their ordinances and charters so that their local elections align with the state’s election cycles.
During the Senate Judiciary committee’s discussion of the bill last month, Chairman Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, said the goal of the bill is to reduce costs and make it easier for voters to know when the election is happening.
“We’ve got municipalities where we’re having a fraction, a mere fraction of voters showing up to vote because they just have no idea there’s an election,” he said.
Susan Economou, executive director of the West Virginia Municipal League, testified that the average municipal election costs about $5,000.
Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, who is a city attorney for Wellsburg, raised concerns about cities that have their elections set by charter. Charters, by state law, can be changed by elections or by ordinance, unless a resident or a council member objects, Weld said. He raised questions about what would happen if cities are not able to change their charters in time for when the legislation takes effect.
An attorney for the Judiciary committee said courts would generally allow cities to change their charters in accordance with state law.
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, 113 municipalities across the state will have their elections in 2025, which is not a year for state elections.
The city of Bridgeport’s next election is planned for June 10. Mayor Andy Lang said he thinks having the municipal elections alongside statewide elections would take focus away from local elections.
“I think that’s a case where a highly, highly publicized presidential election, like we had this last time, can take the complete focus away from your local candidates,” Lang said. “So I’m more for allowing us to continue to have our municipal elections whenever we want to.”
Lang said he’s heard the argument that aligning the elections with the state’s could increase voter turnout, but if people are really concerned with local elections, they turn out and vote accordingly.
The change may mean municipalities can save money by not staffing their own poll workers and printing their own ballots along with other election related costs, Lang said. The change will also mean that one group of elected officials would have their terms cut short or extended
“Overall I wouldn’t want to see it changed, but once again, I’m assuming the Legislature will do whatever they think is best for all municipalities,” Lang said. “And there may be many municipalities that really can’t afford [to have their own elections].”
The Senate bill will next be referred to the House for consideration.
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