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Commission weighs moving Lansing elections to even years, outlines 2027–2029 transition plan
Summary
Commissioners debated switching municipal elections from odd to even years, considered turnout and cost trade-offs, and agreed a transition plan should align implementation of a fifth ward with the 2029 election cycle; commission asked the clerk to provide turnout and down‑ballot data.
The Lansing Charter Commission on May 27 discussed whether to move municipal elections from odd years to even years and reviewed transition language for shifting from staggered council terms to an all-at-once election cycle.
The commission did not vote to change election timing but directed the city clerk to provide turnout and down‑ballot voting data for commission review. Commissioners discussed expected cost savings, higher turnout in even years, but also greater “ballot drop-off” for down‑ballot nonpartisan races in even-year ballots.
Why it matters: Changing the year of municipal elections affects voter turnout, campaign costs, ballot order, and the commission’s plan to…
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