HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.D. Odd Vs Even Year Elections 111111111111 General Business 7. D.
SH€'KOPEF
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kris Wilson, Assistant City Administrator
DATE: 08/05/2015
SUBJECT: Odd vs Even Year Elections
Action Sought
The Council directed staff to place the topic of moving from odd to even year
municipal elections on the agenda for discussion.
Background
The City of Shakopee currently conducts municipal elections for Mayor and City
Council in odd numbered calendar years. Also on the ballot in these years are
school board seats. The choice to hold local elections in the odd or even numbered
years is one that state law leaves to local cities and school districts. The City of
Shakopee and/or the Shakopee School District could opt to change from the current
odd year election cycles to an even year election cycle.
The cost of conducting odd year elections is approximately $15,000 per election
cycle. If both the City and the School District opted to switch to even year
elections, this amount could be saved every two-years. If the City opted to switch
but the School District remained on an odd year election cycle, it would be
responsible for conducting its own election and would presumably bear the full cost.
It has been suggested that one reason for moving to even year elections is that they
typically have a higher level of voter turnout. Attached is a chart showing recent
voter turnout in Scott County for both odd and even year elections.
If the City Council wishes to move from an odd year election cycle to an even year
one it would need to adopt and publish an ordinance to that effect. Following
publication, the public would have 180 days to petition for a referendum on the
topic. If no petition is received, the ordinance would go into effect 240 days after
its original publication. As part of adopting the ordinance, the Council would need
to lay out a transition plan for moving from odd year elections to even year elections.
State law requires the initial ordinance to be adopted prior to June 1 of the calendar
year, so it is too late to take action on this item this year. However, if Council so
directed, staff could prepare the necessary ordinance for consideration in early 2016.
Requested Action
The Council is asked to discuss the issue of moving municipal elections from odd to
even numbered calendar years and provide direction to staff regarding any further
actions or information desired.
Attachments: Scott County Voter Turnout
SCOTT COUNTY VOTER TURN-OUT
#of Total Votes
#of Registered voters Cast in Scott Type of
Year #of Precincts for Scott County County %of Voter Turnout Election
2014 46 78,713 45,324 57.58% State
2013 32 63,371 9,072 14.32% Municipal
2012 46 75,316 71,965 95.55% Federal
2011 27 54,851 10,168 18.54% Municipal .
2010 44 73,016 47,991 65.73% State
2009 35 72,671 12,188 16.77% Municipal
2008 44 71,722 67,321 93.86% Federal
2007 36 66,134 20,918 31.63% Municipal
2006 45 66,580 47,132 70.79% State