Allow even year elections!

We all know that change happens at the local level. But an old law from the 1960s requires that we elect most of our local leaders in odd-numbered years, when most voters do not return their ballots.

HB 1932 will give local communities the freedom to switch their elections to even years, when people are already thinking about voting in federal and state elections. This one change could as much as double turnout, and ensure voters of color and young voters are heard in local elections.

I’d like to sincerely thank you for hearing HB 1932, which would allow communities to elect our local leaders in even-numbered years, when far more of us participate.

I believe in the importance of local elections. People representing our communities on city councils, port commissions, and school boards are making crucial decisions that affect my life.

Unfortunately, an old state law from the 1960s requires most local elections to happen in odd-numbered years, when only about a third of us turn in our ballots. If we give our communities the freedom to switch to even-year elections, our leaders would truly represent all of us, not just a small number of us.

This one change could as much as double turnout, and ensure voters of color and young voters are heard in local elections. If we empower localities to switch, we’ll see more youth, Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, and disabled voters make their voices heard.

Studies show that communities who switch to even year elections can count on voters to vote all the way down the ballot. In odd years, most voters aren’t voting at all.

I am grateful for all the amazing work our state has done to ensure all voters can make our voices heard. HB 1932 would build on that progress, boosting voter participation for local races more than all our democracy reforms from the last decade, combined.

Thank you again for hearing the bill, and I ask that you vote HB 1932 out of committee with a “do pass” recommendation.

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