RECOMMENDATION #28
As much as I like the Governor’s Commission on reforming local government, I do have one critique of the plan.
The commission suggests tinkering with Indiana’s school board and municipal elections. It suggests moving school board elections to November. Currently they occur during May primary. And it suggests moving municipal elections from odd-numbered years to even numbered years. The goal is to increase voter participation. An admirable goal, no doubt, but I’d do it a little differently.
I would keep the odd-year elections and reserve them for municipalities. That way voters could solely focus on those local issues and they won’t get caught up in federal or statewide races. I’d lump all the mayors, city-county councils, school boards together. I would also consolidate the elections and shorten the cycle.
I’d make the May Primary a consolidated primary, with the top two vote getters participating in a run off two months later. There is no reason why a city-council member needs six months to convince someone to vote for them. If they can’t do it in two months, then maybe they don’t need to run. The general election would be held in July and then we’re done.
A summer election would increase voter turnout. A shorter election season would save money and decrease voter burnout on candidates. And keeping local races separate would allow voters to focus on those issues which are most important and closest to them.
Now that’s government reform.
