Members of the Dallas Charter Review Commission are looking at whether city elections should be held in May 鈥� like they currently are 鈥� or in November.
The commission will discuss how feasible it may be to shift the elections and talk about how that change could affect city council member term lengths and campaign seasons, during the Tuesday Charter Review Commission meeting.
David de la Fuente is the charter review commissioner for District 1. De la Fuente recently submitted one of the first charter amendments for discussion centering on elections.
鈥淒allas municipal [election] turnout is among the lowest in the country,鈥� De la Fuente said at a late October commission meeting. 鈥淣othing that we have tried on engagement with individuals, through encouraging people to participate in the current system has had a meaningful impact on increasing voter turnout in our city.鈥�
De la Fuente said the potential solution is moving the election to November, of odd numbered years. Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio are three of the largest Texas cities that hold elections in May.
鈥淭hey are usually the lowest voter turnout鈥f any major city,鈥� De la Fuente said. 鈥淗ouston doubles voter turnout and holds their elections in November of odd numbered years.鈥�
De la Fuente said a 鈥渉otly contested鈥� Houston mayoral election in 2015 saw around a 27% voter turnout. He says that might seem low compared to a presidential election 鈥� or even a gubernatorial election. But compared to Dallas鈥� voter turnout 鈥� just over 12% during the 2019 mayoral election 鈥� De la Fuente says anything more is 鈥渁 godsend.鈥�
De la Fuente said a November election could save the city money as well. He says holding four 鈥渞egularly scheduled uniform elections every biennium wastes鈥� millions in county and city funding. The November election date is required by Texas state law 鈥� May elections are optional, according to De la Fuente鈥檚 presentation. Dallas County shares election costs with various governments 鈥渢hat may be using that election date as well.鈥�
But at least one commissioner wanted to know why increases in voter turnout is a good thing.
鈥淭he problem that we are attempting to solve is low voter turnout,鈥� District 2 Commissioner Miguel Solis said in late October. 鈥淪o we think more voter turnout in these elections is a good thing. Why?鈥�
Solis said he wanted to drill down more into the issue and make sure all philosophical and technical questions were out on the table.
De la Fuente says the more registered voters participate; the better municipal governments can serve their residents. He also says having these elections specifically in November of odd-numbered years will prevent 鈥渕ixing partisan and nonpartisan elections.鈥�
And there are usually no partisan elections scheduled outside of November of even-numbered years.
City officials and community leaders say Dallas has struggled with low voter turnout for years.
The commission 鈥� which is made up of 15 individuals appointed by city council members 鈥� is tasked with reviewing the city charter, fielding potential amendments from Dallas residents and then reporting back to the city council.
After council members review the commission's recommendations, they will vote on what makes it to the municipal election ballot. Ultimately, Dallas voters will decide the final decision of what 鈥� if anything 鈥� changes in the city's charter.
Got a tip? Email Nathan Collins at ncollins@kera.org. You can follow Nathan on Twitter .
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider today. Thank you.
