INDIANA – State Rep. Alan Morrison’s (R-Brazil) legislation boosting voter turnout and saving money by enabling local leaders to move municipal elections to even-numbered years could soon be law.

According to Morrison, his bill would allow cities with populations of 3,500 or less to adopt an ordinance moving their elections of local officials to even-numbered years. Municipal elections are currently held on odd-numbered years, opposite of national and statewide races.

Morrison said combining elections could spur voter turnout. The Indiana Secretary of State’s Election Division reported 23% of registered voters cast ballots in the 2019 election, compared to 51% in 2018.

“It’s clear that more people are voting in elections that include higher-profile races,” Morrison said. “To help increase our voter turnout, we need to adapt to our voting habits and allow communities the option to move their elections to even-numbered years.”

He said merging elections would also reduce the costs of conducting annual elections for these communities.

“Those funds could be better spent on needs like upgrading infrastructure or sparking economic growth,” Morrison said. “This legislation is a practical way to get more Hoosiers to exercise their civic duty while saving communities potentially thousands of dollars on election costs.”

House Enrolled Act 1147 passed out of the Senate and now heads to the governor for consideration as a new law. For more information, visit iga.in.gov.

 

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