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Council advances charter question to ask voters whether municipal elections should move to even years
Summary
Council moved forward a charter amendment proposal to ask voters if Aurora should switch municipal elections from odd-year to even-year cycles; supporters cited higher turnout while opponents warned of ballot fatigue and higher costs; staff gave example election cost differences ($300,000 vs. $70,000).
Council member Jackson introduced a proposed charter amendment that would ask voters whether to move Aurora’s municipal elections from odd-year cycles to even-year cycles to increase turnout and consolidate election administration.
“This effort is around strengthening our municipal election democracy and increasing access to elections,” Council member Jackson said, arguing that municipalities aligning with even-year cycles see higher turnout. Council members who opposed the change warned of longer ballots, voter fatigue and outside influence on local races; Council member Bergen said she “would be in opposition of it.”
Staff provided cost context: for example, the clerk said that a 2022 midterm election with one ballot question cost roughly $300,000, while a 2025 coordinated election with multiple council seats and ballot questions cost about $70,000. Councilors also noted that county cost-allocation methods (weighted-population formulas) affect how much Aurora would pay in even-year cycles.
The mayor objected to moving the item forward immediately, citing timing concerns with three Build Up Aurora ballot questions also on this cycle, but a majority of council supported advancing the charter question for further processing. Council did not adopt any charter changes at this meeting; the item will proceed for further consideration and potential ballot placement if council and legal staff finalize language.
Next steps: staff will pursue analysis with county election officials on cost implications and follow council directions for timing and ballot coordination.
