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Council advances charter amendment to move municipal elections to May primary
Summary
On a 7–0 vote Council approved first reading of an ordinance to amend the city charter to move municipal elections to the May primary as allowed by recent state legislation; it includes transitional three-year terms to align the city election cycle with state law.
City Attorney Simonton explained July 21 that state law (Senate Bill 50) requires municipalities to hold local elections either on the May primary or the November general, and provided a method for cities that must amend charters to align with the change. The proposed ordinance would create a transition in which council seats are elected to three-year terms in 2027 and 2029 so that, beginning in 2030, even-year May primaries can host the elections on a regular four-year cycle.
Simonton said precinct-boundary changes tied to the 2030 census do not prevent the city from adopting the timing change before redistricting, because Morgantown uses at-large elections administered by the county. Councilors asked questions about coordination with the county clerk and the effects of shifting dates; Simonton said staff had discussed the draft with the county clerk and circulated a revised ordinance.
The ordinance passed first reading by roll-call vote, 7–0. Council will consider subsequent readings and administrative steps to coordinate with the county for May-primary administration.
Why it matters: The change aligns municipal elections with state timelines and county administration, which may increase administrative efficiency and reduce separate election costs. The ordinance includes transitional terms to avoid unintended term truncation.
