- Home
- Solano News
- US / World
- Opinion
- Living
- Entertainment
- Sports
- Business
- Obituaries
- Comics
- Gallery
- Classifieds
- Advertisers
- Coupons
- Contact Us
2,266
1,102
Fairfield council to revisit elections ordinance
FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield City Council will revisit an ordinance Tuesday to change elections from odd- to even numbered-years.
The council voted 5-0 in favor of the switch March 5 after county supervisors Jim Spering and John Vasquez, who both represent parts of Fairfield, brought the item to the city for a vote.
Elections were moved to odd years in 1985 and took effect in 1987. The council had amended an ordinance to make the change.
Council members will have a second reading of the ordinance Tuesday. The ordinance simply states whether or not to delete the previously amended city code to reflect the move to even-year elections. If council votes in favor, the ordinance will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
The proposal to switch to even-year elections was originally based on cost savings to the city and county. But a return to even-year elections could also effect voter turnout.
City Manager Sean Quinn said odd-year election turnout has averaged 32 percent since 2007 and even years have averaged 71 percent since that time.
Changing the election years would mean all incumbents would have their terms extended one year. The cost savings from elections would increase if all entities in the county switched to even years.
So far, the Fairfield City Council, Fairfield-Suisun School District and Solano County Board of Education gave formal approval of the switch to even-year elections.
If the county approves the change, Fairfield must send a mailer to each registered voter, which is estimated to cost around $22,000.
The City Council will vote on the voting ordinance at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Fairfield City Council Chamber, 1000 Webster St.
Reach Heather Ah San at 427-6977 or hahsan@dailyrepublic.net. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HeatherMalia.
Heather Ah San
Discussion | 1 comment
The Daily Republic does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
Steven KaysMarch 18, 2013 - 7:40 pm
Interesting.
Reply |