Mayor proposes commission on voting; council asks for scope clarifications and moves item to B session

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones asked the City Council to create a mayoral commission on voting to recommend local actions that boost voter participation and remove barriers. The proposed advisory body would review existing efforts, coordinate with county and state partners, and submit an initial set of recommendations to the mayor and council by July 4, 2026.

The proposal drew broad support in principle but prompted council requests for clearer definitions of scope, membership and duration. Council members worried about duplication with other election-related entities and asked staff to clarify how the new commission would collaborate with the county elections office, the city clerk, school districts and existing civic groups. Mayor Jones said the urgency stems from recent proposed state and federal changes she characterized as potential barriers: "When there's legislation being passed ... these are very challenging things for us to grapple with as a country, which I think really calls upon us at the local level to identify ways in which we can hear from and protect our community and ensure that they're heard at the ballot box."

Council voted to continue the ordinance to a B session in April or May for members to refine scope, membership balance and meeting cadence before returning to the council.