State again moves to regulate local election dates

Instead, the proposal by the Chandler Republican allows cities to keep their off-year elections — but only if the difference in turnout is within 25 percent of what it was during either of the two most recent comparable statewide elections. If local turnout drops below that trigger, then local elections are declared illegal.

The 34-22 vote came over objections of Democrats who argued the move is not only unnecessary but an infringement by state lawmakers on the rights of cities and their residents to decide what works best for them.

“People in cities want the freedom to have their own preferences,’’ complained Rep. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe. “I see no reason to hammer down on cities and refuse them their local control.’’

Mesnard disputed that premise.

“I don’t see how changing the timing of election to a time where more people are going to be showing up is the equivalent of strangling of cities or placing a hammer on the cities,’’ he said. Anyway, Mesnard said, a city’s loss of the right to set election dates will happen only if there is significant dropoff from turnout in even-numbered years.

Rep. Jeff Weninger, R-Chandler, said he sees the issue in even simpler terms.

“Why wouldn’t they want this?’’ he asked.

But Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, suggested that the claims of Republicans of wanting to boost voter turnout ring hollow. She said the Republican leadership refuses to even consider Democrat bills to make it easier for people to participate in elections.