Burbank, California, Measure V, Election Procedures Charter Amendment (June 2018)
| Measure V: Burbank Election Procedures Charter Amendment |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 5, 2018 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local charter amendments |
| Related articles |
| Local charter amendments on the ballot June 5, 2018 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures Local elections and campaigns on the ballot |
| See also |
| Burbank, California |
A charter amendment to change election procedures was on the ballot for Burbank voters in Los Angeles County, California, on June 5, 2018. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of amending the city charter to move city elections from February and April of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years to coincide with state and federal elections, beginning in 2020; eliminating primary and general runoff elections; and adding a one-time extension of one year and eight months to the offices of city officeholders elected in May 2015 and May 2017. |
| A no vote was a vote against amending the city charter to move city elections to November of even-numbered years, thereby continuing to hold city primary elections in February and city general elections in April of odd-numbered years. |
Election results
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Burbank Measure V |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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15,808 | 81.13% | ||
| No | 3,676 | 18.87% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
To increase voter participation in City of Burbank elections, shall the measure be adopted amending City of Burbank Charter: 1.) changing City’s oddnumbered year general elections to November of even-numbered years coinciding with State/Federal elections and conforming to state law; 2.) eliminating City’s primary election; 3.) extending elected City official terms, one time, by one year and eight months to transition to even-numbered year elections; 4.) simplifying the election process in the Charter?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Burbank City Attorney:
| “ | California Voter Participation Rights Act’s purpose is to increase voter participation and requires a City to change its elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, if there has been a significant decrease in voter turnout. “Significant decrease” means turnout for a regularly scheduled Burbank election is at least 25% less than the average Burbank turnout for the previous four statewide general elections.
Burbank voter data for the last four statewide general elections shows an average turnout of 60.43%. In the last four odd-numbered year, all mail ballot general elections, Burbank’s average voter turnout was 16.95%, which is 43.48% less voter turnout. City Council placed this Measure on the ballot amending the City Charter regarding City elections. Starting in 2020 it changes City’s odd-numbered year general election to November of even-numbered years coinciding with State/Federal elections following California Voter Participation Rights Act. Since November of even numbered year, statewide elections in Burbank experience higher voter turnout, this should increase voter participation. Amended Charter Section (§) 800 eliminates the primary and general runoff election process in 2019. Instead, City officials will be elected at one general election in November of even-numbered years, combined with statewide elections, conducted by Los Angeles County. Candidate receiving the highest number of votes for that office is elected. §800 also simplifies the election process by allowing procedural details to be governed by ordinance/state election law. Burbank’s primary election is eliminated, in part, because the state primary changes to March in 2020, which would make election season 10 months, January-November. California Voter Participation Rights Act does not allow a different primary date. Transitioning to November of even-numbered year elections in 2020 requires a one-time extension of existing elected City officials’ terms, as follows (§805):
eight months (one year and eight month extension).
subsequent election. With a November general election, Council’s reorganization meeting (seating the new council and choosing a mayor) can no longer be in May. The new date will be set by Council ordinance, most likely December or January (§400). A "no" vote would mean elections for City officials will remain in odd-numbered year February primary and April general elections. Under California Voter Participation Rights Act, a local voter may sue the City to change to evennumbered year, statewide elections because of the decrease in voter participation. A “yes” vote approves the Charter amendments relating to elections. If a majority say yes, starting in 2020 elections for City officials will change to November of even-numbered years coinciding with state/federal elections. With a “yes” vote the City will be following the California Voter Participation Rights Act and voter participation should increase. [2] |
” |
| —Burbank City Attorney[3] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Burbank City Council on February 6, 2018.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ County of Los Angeles, "Statewide Direct Primary Election - Measures Appearing on the Ballot," accessed April 14, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ , "Measure V Impartial Analysis," accessed April 14, 2018
- ↑ City of Burbank, "Agenda," February 6, 2018
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