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La Verne council introduces ordinance to move municipal elections to November general election
Summary
The La Verne City Council on May 19 introduced an ordinance to shift the city's municipal elections to the November general election to boost turnout and align nomination timelines; the motion passed unanimously and will return for a second reading June 2.
La Verne officials on May 19 introduced an ordinance to change the city's general municipal election date from the statewide primary schedule (March/June in even years) to the statewide general election (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November).
City staff told the council the change responds to the California Voter Participation Rights Act (Senate Bill 415) and aims to increase turnout and simplify candidate-nomination timelines. Staff cited turnout figures during the presentation, saying turnout for primaries averages about 31% while general-election turnout is about 64%.
"The recommended action is to introduce by title only and waive further reading of an ordinance titled an ordinance of the city council of the city of La Verne, California changing the date of the city's general municipal election," City staff said during the presentation. Staff explained that moving elections to November would consolidate the city's calendar with most Los Angeles County cities and move nomination periods away from holiday closures and end-of-year staffing challenges.
Councilmembers discussed operational impacts. Councilmember Crosby said she was most concerned about voter confusion where city council district boundaries do not match school-district boundaries and urged clear voter-notification efforts so residents know which races are on their ballots. City staff acknowledged those outreach needs and said the county would mail a postcard to registered voters after the county board approves the change.
Staff outlined practical effects: a small number of term extensions would be necessary to transition the cycle (the last time the council extended terms, they did so for 12 months), and election-certification timing would push new-member orientation and League of Cities training into a December/January cycle, which staff said would better align with budget planning and onboarding.
The council voted to introduce the ordinance by title and waive further reading; the motion was moved by Councilmember Johnson and seconded by Cashel Vagita and carried 5-0. Staff said a second reading is scheduled for the council's June 2 meeting and the ordinance must be transmitted to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for ministerial approval; the county will mail notice to the city's roughly 22,200 registered voters within 30 days of that approval.
Next steps: the council will consider the item for adoption at the June 2 meeting; if adopted, the city will coordinate with LA County Elections on timeline changes and voter notification.
