Uniform election dates produce four main benefits: 1) higher voter turnout, 2) election administration cost savings, 3) decreased likelihood of special interests dominating a low-turnout election, and 4) reduced election worker burnout.
Key points:
- Seven states require municipal elections to be consolidated with even-year federal election dates. This increases turnout and saves $29.5-129 million for local government per biennium.
- Should Texas and the other 42 states move to consolidate local elections, other benefits include reduced election worker burnout.
- Consolidating elections means less likelihood of special interests dominating low-turnout elections.
- When local elections are held separately, it leads to a higher chance of passing tax increases, a significantly increased chance of candidates endorsed by teachers’ unions winning, and higher pay and benefits for public employees.
- Texas should pass legislation similar to SB 1209 (2025), which would eliminate the Saturday in May local elections and consolidate them to November, and eventually move to eliminate off-year (odd-year) elections except for the November constitutional election.