NextGen board reviews data showing even‑year elections could boost turnout, frames letter as awareness rather than formal recommendation

A committee review of turnout data dominated one agenda item March 4, when members examined a draft letter arguing that shifting local elections from odd to even years would likely increase voter participation.

A committee member who prepared the analysis told the board, “We think there's a big impact on voter turnout of an even year election,” and said the draft letter was intended as an awareness-raising document for the charter review committee rather than a formal recommendation to change the city charter.

Members debated the trade-offs. Some described moving to even years as the single, largest lever to raise turnout; others cautioned it is legally complex, would require a ballot measure, and could produce offsetting effects (for example, a longer ballot in even years that some research links to lower marginal attention for down‑ballot items). Members discussed transitional approaches used elsewhere—such as adjusting incumbents’ terms to align election cycles—while noting those changes can be legally and politically sensitive.

The group agreed on a near-term path: send an informational letter that presents the data and invites the charter review committee and council to consider the findings while continuing to explore smaller, complementary turnout strategies (outreach, access to voting). No formal vote was recorded on changing the election schedule; board members asked staff and the charter review contacts to circulate the letter and the supporting data.