The Prescott Valley Town Council last week criticized a new state law that changes municipal election dates from odd- to even-numbered years.
House Bill 2826 would burden local jurisdictions, Town Clerk Diane Russell told Reps. Karen Fann, R-Prescott, and Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, and also might not produce the intended effect of increasing voter turnout.
HB 2826 requires municipal governments to conduct elections during the same even-numbered years as the state Legislature. Elections would take place in the fall instead of the spring, which is when the town council elections take place.
Russell said the law does not reconcile whether the terms of municipalities and special districts would be lengthened or shortened to coincide with even-numbered years.
“Prescott Valley is an all-mail ballot election,” Russell said. She added requiring voters to go to the polls instead could lead to longer lines and discourage turnout.
She suggested exempting from the new law municipalities that conduct mail-only ballots, or to allow mail-only ballots for statewide elections.
Fann said she would move to repeal the law.
Tobin, the House speaker, voted for HB 2826.
“I guess I am a bad guy,” he said, adding his intent was to increase voter turnout.
