There is a move afoot by some in the City to move local elections to November. The "Manassas Votes" website be here. They are circulating petitions in order to get this measure on the ballot. I know that we've had a couple of down thread debates on this subject over the past year but this is important and I figured it's worth it's own thread.
In summary, the argument that Manassas Votes appears to make is that moving the local elections to November it would increase participation and save money. That's summary, go look at their website, they've got some good data.
For my part, I don't think moving the elections to November is a tremendous idea and here's why: in a good year we have around 1200 people vote in the local elections. Those people vote for a number of reasons but, after having worked the last 3 election cycles, I can tell you that most of them are relatively well-informed when it comes to city issues. And that's the crux of the issue: do we want a smaller number of people voting who are better informed or do we want more people voting just for the sake of having more people? Even when the majority of them wouldn't really know what they're voting for or against? That might sound elitest or something but it really isn't. I live with the fact that people really don't know much about their local government every day. It's a constant challenge and I affects every aspect of how the City conducts its affairs.
Having said all of that, I have signed the petition and believe the voters shoudl decide the mattter.
July 25, 2012 at 4:16 pm
I went to the Farmer's Market just to sign it. You've been doing a great job of better informing more people Andy. Just keep it up.
July 26, 2012 at 7:43 am
Andy, I agree with your points on the benefit for a local election not to be "bundled" with larger elections…and support fully to let the voters decide.
In a coffee clatch the other day, my two fellow drinkers and I kicked this one around a bit. We lay odds that if it is moved, and say there is a national election bundled in it, the voting breakdown may play like 10,000 voted for President, and maybe 2,000 are recorded for the City government runners.
Given the history of the May elections and the numbers that turn out, it is entirely possible this hypothesis may ring true. There are people now even in local elections who will skip a voting screen because they do not like who is listed there.
July 26, 2012 at 8:01 am
http://lwvfallschurch.org/files/may_or_november_fact_sheet-final.pdf
This question has been a subject of debate in many Virginia cities
including Falls Church.
July 26, 2012 at 8:03 am
Ray, I suspect you're right. However, they may also just vote for the first three candidates listed!
July 26, 2012 at 9:31 am
"…they may also just vote for the first three candidates listed."
Which, the great majority of the time, would be Republican.
Independents are always listed on the bottom.
Grrr.
July 26, 2012 at 10:46 pm
" Independents are always listed on the bottom.
Grrr."
Steve, thanks for the laugh…a good, belly shaking one it was! Ah come on, oh Senior Statesman of the City of Manassas – for and Independent (at least in the last couple of elections), you continue to well Good Sir!!!
July 26, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Andy, your point on just the first three is one of those reasons I am not crazy about the drive to consolidate all elections to Novemebr. In an off-year, with nothing of National level on the ballot, folks might take their time in selecting who the person in. I can see where someone would just tap the screen without reading it fully.
July 28, 2012 at 9:33 am
http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/309749
Moving the date of local elections is also being debated in the "Star City".
July 28, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Manassas Votes has ads running on Patch.com, InsideNova.com and even a website for local restaurant reviews. Way to get the word out.
August 16, 2012 at 2:47 pm
I see in today's Manassas Observor (what a great little free paper!) that the folks collected enough signatures so the Court can send over the notice for special election come November. Looks like the voters (who show up) will have a chance to decide the move.