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Senate committee advances bill to move municipal elections to even years; cities warn of 'overshadowing'
Summary
The committee advanced SB 422 (LC 473837) to shift local municipal elections from odd to even years by extending current odd‑year terms one year; proponents say it will boost turnout, municipal groups warn it could 'overshadow' local contests and raise charter and administrative issues.
The Senate Ethics Committee heard extensive debate on SB 422 (LC 473837), a proposal from Senator Bearden to move municipal elections held in odd years into even‑numbered years by extending current odd‑year terms by one year. Bearden said the change is designed to raise turnout in low‑participation local contests and cited examples of single‑digit turnout in some areas.
Bearden told the committee the bill would supersede conflicting local charters so the statewide rule would apply uniformly, and he stressed he chose to add one year rather than subtract a year from current terms to avoid taking years away from incumbents. “If it’s a local election, odd year election, it just moves them to even years,” he said.
Members raised multiple concerns: some asked whether extending terms would conflict with municipal term‑limit provisions, and others suggested alternatives such as allowing cities to opt in or moving municipal elections to May to align with existing consolidated nonpartisan election calendars. Senator Jackson and others urged caution about taking away a term incumbents expected to serve.
DJ Waller, representing the Georgia Municipal Association, urged the committee to reject the change, saying local issues could be overshadowed when municipal contests appear on ballots with high‑profile state and federal races. “Municipal elections focus on public safety, infrastructure, budgeting, zoning, and service delivery. These issues often receive far less attention when placed on the same ballot as statewide and national races,” Waller told the panel.
Other citizens offered differing views. One speaker said consolidating to even years would increase turnout (she cited a 14 percent turnout figure in her precinct), while another warned the nonpartisan focus and community engagement of municipal contests could be diminished and proposed exploring hand‑marked paper ballots and other cost‑saving reforms instead.
After extended discussion and public testimony, the committee recorded a 5–5 vote on a motion to ‘do pass’ SB 422; the chair exercised a tiebreaking vote in favor and advanced the bill out of committee. Committee members signaled continued interest in alternatives (May timing, opt‑in approaches, charter coordination) as the bill moves forward.
