During the Christiansburg Town Council meeting held January 15, 2008, a new subject was broached: moving town elections from May to November.
As Think Christiansburg reported, Councilman Huppert brought forward discussion of moving council elections to November in odd-numbered years. This could save the town money, stop confusion about polling places, and encourage voter turnout by aligning with other local elections (board of supervisors and school board). Mayor Ballengee stated he'd recently met with Blacksburg's mayor and discussed their change in elections. Councilman Stipes said he'd attended a Blacksburg meeting where extensive data on this topic was presented. Councilman Canada asked whether the matter could be placed before voters through a referendum, and the town's attorney was directed to prepare a report. Councilman Barber stated he saw no need to take the matter further.
Since that discussion, Christiansburg town elections were held and less than 11% of registered voters showed up at the polls. Incumbent Steve Huppert lost his seat, while newcomer and political novice Henry Showalter and Jim Vanhoosier, a long time Planning Commission and Kiwanian club member, took new seats. Councilman Canada, who had been appointed to his seat by council after the May 2006 elections, had registered as a candidate in March but then withdrew from the May 2008 race. Voters returned incumbent Michael Barber for his third term on council. During the campaign, candidates discussed this possible change during a forum. All three newly elected council members will be sworn into office by September 1.
The town's attorney has not yet followed up with the requested report (in that it has not been presented to council during open meetings, nor discussed further in these meetings), so it's difficult to understand council's constraints or concerns for examining this subject further. Concerned citizens who feel this subject has merit may wish to contact the State Board of Elections office to determine how voters can have this placed on the ballot by referendum, as suggested by Councilman Canada.
Subsequently, Radford also began began exploring this issue. A local newspaper headline proclaimed "November Election Won't Cure Voter Apathy in Radford" and went on to report the Radford City Council is contemplating moving council and school board elections to November. They figure they'd see better voter turnout. Last week (May elections), barely 13 percent of Radford voters bothered to cast ballots.
They would see better turnout in Radford, they reckoned, if only because November always has better turnout. But that doesn't mean voters will be any less apathetic about their city council and school board. Reaching out and engaging the public will require work on the part of elected officials.
Relative to citizen engagement, cost or convenience, citizens of both Christiansburg and Radford should keep this topic on the front burner. Reasonable people understand that having a minority choose who will represent the interests of a majority may not be the best path leading to a desired future for our communities. How this can be improved within each community is a valid point for area leaders and residents to discuss.