Commission discusses moving Ithaca City elections to even years to boost turnout and align with county

Donna Fleming, speaking for the elections working group, said members are considering a set of election-focused amendments, including adjusting the timing of common-council elections from odd to even years to match county and other local timing and to improve turnout.

"It's more efficient and you get higher voter turnout in even number years," Donna said, explaining the group’s rationale for aligning city elections with county cycles. Members also discussed updating city-judge language to reflect that there are plural judges and noted the county’s move toward even-year cycles prompted the proposal. Miranda Pagan and others supported the idea as a turnout and administrative-alignment measure.

Commissioners cautioned that the change would need to mesh with state and county timelines and with any constitutional amendments affecting district offices. Isaac Gaylord and other members noted draft memos from the city attorney’s office were circulated and will be used to refine language; the elections working group will take the lead on drafting vacancy-filling procedures and coordinating necessary statutory references.

The working group also plans to invite Steve Dit of the Board of Elections to the full commission meeting to answer questions about timing and implementation. The elections agenda items and the city attorney memos will be circulated to members ahead of the next full meeting at Ithaca City Hall, where public comment will be taken.