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House committee recommends moving municipal elections to even-numbered years
Summary
The Montana House Committee of the Whole voted 55-45 to recommend passage of House Bill 221, which would shift municipal elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years; supporters said the change would raise turnout and save money, opponents warned of administrative burdens and local races being drowned out.
Representative Schubert moved that the committee recommend passage of House Bill 221, a proposal to move municipal elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. The Committee of the Whole voted to recommend the bill, 55–45.
Supporters said aligning municipal elections with even‑year cycles would increase turnout and reduce the number of separate elections administrators must run. Representative Schubert, the bill sponsor, told the committee municipal turnout is currently lower than turnout in midterm and presidential years and cited local examples: "in Missoula County, the turnout for the municipal election was 44" and "the Billings 2021 municipal election was 48%" while older municipal turnouts can be lower. He also argued fewer elections per biennium would save money for election administrators.
Opponents raised administrative and democratic concerns. Representative Cordum said the bill would add work for county election offices and could slow result reporting: "The first one is the burden on the elections office. You've heard that each additional page on the ballot multiplies the amount of time it takes to get the results out." Representative Edwards said major federal and statewide races could "completely drown out our local municipal and our state legislative campaigns" and warned of ballot fatigue and longer counting times. Representative Joy warned that high-profile federal campaigns produce mail and phone campaign saturation that can drown out municipal messages: "Your garbage, your water, your sewer, your budget, your police, and your fire ... all gets drowned out after the fifteenth mailing."
Supporters noted election administrators and the Secretary of State came to committee as proponents this year; Representative Darling said amendments came from election administrators and the Secretary of State and encouraged members to "try this out, see what happens." The sponsor noted no opponents had come forward in committee during the bill's committee hearing.
The committee recorded 55 votes in favor and 45 opposed and reported the bill as recommended to pass on second reading.
House Bill 221 now advances in the legislative process; it passed second reading in the Committee of the Whole and will proceed to subsequent floor action and committee referrals as required by House rules.
