Phoenix, Arizona, Proposition 411, Even-Year Election Date for Mayor and Council Elections Charter Amendment (August 2018)
| Proposition 411: Phoenix Even-Year Election Date for Mayor and Council Elections Charter Amendment |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| August 28, 2018 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local election and voting laws |
| Related articles |
| Local election and voting laws on the ballot August 28, 2018 ballot measures in Arizona Maricopa County, Arizona ballot measures Local charter amendments on the ballot |
| See also |
| Phoenix, Arizona |
A proposition to change city election dates was on the ballot for Phoenix voters in Maricopa County, Arizona, on August 28, 2018. It was approved.
A yes vote was a vote in favor of the following:
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| A no vote was a vote against changing the election date for mayor and city council elections, thereby leaving elections in fall of odd-numbered years and continuing to prohibit city elections to be held concurrently with state elections. |
Election results
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Phoenix Proposition 411 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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115,754 | 72.58% | ||
| No | 43,740 | 27.42% | ||
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- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Shall Chapter III, Section 6 and Chapter XIII, Sections 1, 3 and 6 of the Charter of the City of Phoenix be amended as described to change the dates for regular city candidate elections from the fall of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years with any runoff election to be held on the next available permitted election date?[2] |
” |
Summary
The summary of the measure was as follows:[1]
| “ |
This proposition, if adopted, would amend the City Charter to change the election date for Mayor and Council Elections from the fall of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years to consolidate with the State General Election, with any runoff election to be held the following March. If adopted this proposition would also repeal the current prohibition on holding city candidate elections on the same date as a State election. The proposition would also change the current terms of council members to align with the new dates as well as move the related inauguration date to the third Monday in April. Lastly, if adopted this proposition would also extend the time required to conduct the canvass of the vote and authorize Maricopa County to designate polling places located in the City of Phoenix for elections conducted by the county.[2] |
” |
| —Summary of Proposition 411 | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Arguments
Sam Stone submitted the following official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
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In 2008, when Scottsdale switched their elections to align with our Statewide elections, turnout increased from 15 percent to 85 percent. Other cities have seen similar increases. Really, that should be the end of the argument. Our system of representative Democracy thrives on participation. More people casting a ballot equals better government. It really is as simple as that. Others may argue that this shift will disenfranchise independent voters, or make the City more partisan. Neither objection holds water. Under this plan, our elections will be held in November of even-numbered years: when every registered voter, including Independents, automatically gets a ballot, and participation is highest. Far from reducing Independent participation in our elections, a “YES” vote for consolidated elections is a vote to increase Independent turnout. The argument that consolidating our elections will increase partisanship is equally weak. City of Phoenix elections will still be non-partisan. Our candidates will still appear on the ballot without a Party designation. But more realistically, when is the last time you cast a vote for someone without knowing their Party affiliation? Along with this measure, you will also be casting a ballot for the next Mayor of Phoenix, likely for either a Republican or a Democrat. By the time you read this, you’ll know which is which. So at the end of the day, the choice is simple: do you want to give more people a say in how our City is run? Or do you want a handful of well-connected insiders determining the direction of Phoenix for you? If you believe that you, your neighbors, and everyone in this City should have a voice, the choice is easy: Vote “YES” on Consolidated elections.[2] |
” |
| —Sam Stone | ||
Opposition
No official argument was submitted in opposition to Proposition 411.
Background
The table below displays some of the most common arguments for and against consolidating local elections in even-numbered years.
| Common arguments for and against consolidating elections in even-numbered years | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For consolidating | Against consolidating | |||
| Local governments can cut costs by holding fewer elections[3] | The ballot length can deter voters from voting on city offices and issues lower on the ballot[4] | |||
| Higher voter turnout occurs in even-numbered years[3] | Cities and counties can maintain more local control over the conduct of elections[5] | |||
In addition to these common arguments, Phoenix voters had to decide whether they approved or disapproved of the county conducting elections rather than the city, as provided under Proposition 411. Voters also decided on extending the terms of sitting council members by 15 months.[6]
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a 6-3 vote of the Phoenix City Council in January 2018. Council members Laura Pastor, Debra Stark, Michael Nowakowski, Thelda Williams, Jim Waring, and Sal DiCiccio voted in favor of placing the measure on the ballot.[7]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 City of Phoenix, "August 2018 Special Election," accessed July 18th, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "The Canvass," April 2016
- ↑ Berkeley Haas School of Business, "Ballot Position, Choice Fatigue, and Voter Behavior," August 20, 2015
- ↑ Arizona Daily Sun, "Arizona, lawmakers again seek right to oversee local election scheduling," March 4, 2018
- ↑ AZ Central, "Who benefits in Phoenix election changes? Everyone? Minority voters? The Koch brothers?" April 20, 2018
- ↑ AZ Central, "Phoenix could move its elections to even years, matching federal races," January 22, 2018
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