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Durham council asks procedures committee to study rising election costs and feasibility of even‑year elections
Summary
City leaders directed staff to schedule a Procedures Committee review after members raised concerns that off‑year local elections cost about $900,000 and yield low turnout; city attorney and elections staff will report back on legality and options including shifting to even‑year elections or other changes.
Durham City Council members asked staff to schedule a Procedures Committee briefing to examine rising election costs and the legal and operational steps required to consider changing the city's election timing.
The discussion began when Mayor Williams told colleagues the city is paying nearly $900,000 for off‑year primary and general election administration and said turnout is extremely low. "We're nearly at, dollars 900,000 in expense for that," the mayor said. He asked the clerk and staff to bring options to the council.
City Clerk Diana told the council she did not have exact figures on hand but estimated the near‑$900,000 figure for holding both the primary and general in an off year. Council members and staff then discussed how the cost is shared when municipal elections coincide with state or federal ballots in even years: the state and county cover portions of the expense when multiple contests appear on the same ballot.
Council member Caballero proposed scheduling a Procedures Committee meeting so the city attorney's office can research legal constraints and steps required to change election timing. The city attorney said she would research how Raleigh and Charlotte made similar changes to even‑year elections and report back on the process and any implications for staggered council terms.
Council members raised related governance questions the committee may study, including whether shifting election years would require a city charter amendment and what effects a change would have on staggered council terms and costs borne solely by the city in off years.
The council directed staff to gather background, outline legal steps, and return to the Procedures Committee with options and timelines. A Procedures Committee meeting was proposed to schedule the research briefing.
The council subsequently moved and approved settling the meeting agenda and the consent items after the discussion.
Looking ahead, the Procedures Committee will assess the fiscal tradeoffs and legal steps for any proposed change; the city attorney and board of elections contacts were requested to supply comparative examples and implementation steps.
