Washington Senate balks at moving some local elections to even-numbered years
A push to let cities and towns in Washington conduct elections in even-numbered years rather than odd ones, as they do now, has come up short.
House Bill 1932 would have changed state law to allow jurisdictions to make the change and set out a path for doing so that included getting approval from voters. The bill passed the House on a 52-45 vote but failed to advance from the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Supporters said shifting to even-year elections, when turnout is higher with state and federal offices on ballots, would result in greater voter participation in local elections.
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, and former secretary of state Sam Reed, a Republican, testified against the bill at a hearing of the Senate panel.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/washington-senate-balks-at-moving-some-local-elections-to-even-numbered-years/
