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Representative Powell warns longer ballots could increase voter drop-off
Summary
Representative Powell told the subcommittee that lengthening ballots by consolidating election dates could increase "fall off" voters and reduce attention to down-ballot contests. Majority Leader William Lambert countered that higher turnout in November offset those concerns.
During debate on HJR0729, Representative Powell raised concerns that moving more contests to November would lengthen ballots and could lead to voter drop-off in down-ballot races.
"These are gonna be very lengthy ballots and I already hear from people, that and wanna limit the number of things that can appear on a ballot, because they say it's just so difficult," Powell said, urging the committee to consider voter education and the risk of reduced participation in lower-profile offices.
Lambert replied that consolidating elections tends to increase turnout and stressed candidate engagement: "the higher the turnout, the better elected officials we get," he said, arguing that higher participation strengthens electoral legitimacy. The committee did not produce turnout or cost analysis during the meeting.
Powell's concerns were not enough to block advancement; the committee voted 6-1 to forward HJR0729 to the state and local full committee.
