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145 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN -2044 <br /> Low Phone: (651) 281- 1200 s (800) 925- 1122 <br /> r D (651) 281-12W <br /> League of Cities 1. IC Fax: (651) 281-1299 # 1,MICIT Fax: (651) 281-1298 <br /> Cities prvmating OXCV11ence <br /> WA Site. http://www.In-itic.org <br /> November City Elections <br /> Odd v. Even Years <br /> Backwound <br /> Under Minnesota law (Minn.Stat. 205.07), the general city election must be held on the <br /> first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in every even-numbered year. <br /> A city may, by passing an ordinance, change from even-year to odd-year elections. <br /> Minnesota has 854 cities. According to League records i <br /> 767 cities have even-year elections <br /> 78 cities have odd-year elections. <br /> The trend for cities to move local elections from odd- to even-year elections has <br /> continued over the last 5-10 years. <br /> Even-Year Elections <br /> Those who are in favor of even-year elections say - <br /> 0 The number of people who vote at city elections will be greater than in odd-year <br /> elections, or stated, another way, an odd-year election allows a small minority of <br /> voters to determine the outcome of the election. <br /> 0 Holding city elections on the same day with state (and federal) elections reduces <br /> the city's cost to conduct the voting process. <br /> Voters are familiar with the candidates and issues in local election contests; and <br /> generally, there is little fall-off in the number of votes cast for candidates seeking <br /> city offices, particularly when there is a contest for those positions. <br /> 0 Voters are accustomed to voting in even-numbered years and are more likely to <br /> retain their interest in city elections over time if the schedule of regular city <br /> elections is the same as that for state and federal elections. <br /> 0 Particularly in a majority of cities where the local population is small, voters <br /> clearly identify and have a strong interest in the candidates and issues <br /> surrounding city elections regardless of the fact that state (and federal) elections <br /> are also being held. <br /> Odd-Year Elections <br /> Those who favor odd-year elections say — <br /> 0 Voters are likely to be better informed on city candidates and issues. <br /> 0 Scheduling city elections at the same time as state and federal elections may <br /> encourage partisanship at the local level because those contests are held <br /> contemporaneously with partisan state and federal elections. <br /> AN EQUAL O PPO R TU N MY/A FFIR M A TI V E ACTION EMPLOYER <br />