A measure under consideration by a Washington legislative panel would eliminate state elections in odd-numbered years.
The House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations on Wednesday held a public hearing on the bill that would permit elections in odd-numbered years in limited circumstances, such as special elections, including school levies or recall of a public official. By 2026, all local elections would have to switch to even-numbered years, though special elections could continue in odd years.
State ballot measures, which are seen most years, could only be run in even years starting January 1st, 2021.
Supporters argue it would increase voter participation for off-year elections. In the most recent election last November, just 45 percent of voters returned their ballots, compared to the nearly 72 percent who voted in 2018. In 2017, just 37 percent of the state’s registered voters cast a ballot.
Opponents, including Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, have several concerns with the measure, including limiting the years voters can pursue ballot measures. Wyman cited the recent referendum on an affirmative action measure that the Legislature passed last year and which voters rejected in November, noting that voters would have had to wait an extra year to challenge lawmakers’ actions if the proposed measure had been in effect.
Washington moved to yearly elections in 1973, and Wyman noted that in the last election before that change, there were 24 ballot measures on the 1972 general election ballot. She said a return to such a lengthy ballots would result in voters giving up before they vote on the local races at the end of the ballot. (AP)
