One thing we all are concerned about is low voter turn-out. I understand that off year elections are often have the said low voter turn-out. If this is so, then why does our local government insist on elections in off years?

I think a general election every two years should suffice. If local government wants to pass a bond or elect a council or school board member then every two year election cycle should suffice.

I would like F35's opinion on this local issue. Is there any legitimate excuse for an off year election?

I'd prefer it, but I've always heard the logic is that the local issues get drowned with the noise of the state/national elections.

Less voter turnout so that each actual vote for those that care means more.

That could work for the cities and county, but the school districts at least locally have 3 year terms. The answer to your question though is because, at least theoretically, down ballot elections in presidential or even congressional years get drowned out by the big races.

George Costanza said:

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That could work for the cities and county, but the school districts at least locally have 3 year terms. The answer to your question though is because, at least theoretically, down ballot elections in presidential or even congressional years get drowned out by the big races.

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How so? Is the assumption people check the prez box or congressional box and leave the rest blank?

FlyRod said:

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George Costanza said:

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That could work for the cities and county, but the school districts at least locally have 3 year terms. The answer to your question though is because, at least theoretically, down ballot elections in presidential or even congressional years get drowned out by the big races.

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How so? Is the assumption people check the prez box or congressional box and leave the rest blank?

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Not an assumption. This happens a lot. I'll try to look at get some numbers to show.

ETA:

Not quite leaving blank, but the percentage of eligible voters in the local races is significantly less than those races at the top of the ballot

Brazos Votes results page
undervotes - voted a ballot, but did not cast a vote in that race
I picked the top races on each ballot then spot checked a few others on each ballot
note the 2020 CS City Council race - winner won by 5 votes - 9,885 undervotes

Brazos County - November 2024 general election (presidential)
132,601 registered voters
92,626 ballots cast (69.85%)
President - 91,961 votes (662 undervotes)
Senator - 91,745 votes (879 undervotes)
US Rep - 90,331 votes (2,295 undervotes)
Chief Justice - 10th Court of Appeals - 63,906 votes (20,882 undervotes)
Brazos County proposition - 77,278 votes (7,321 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2023 general election (State propositions, school districts)
126,280 registered voters
19,817 ballots cast (15.69%)
State Prop 1 - 19,503 votes (314 undervotes)
CSISD trustee - 8,815 votes (2,231 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2022 general election (gubernatorial)
126,229 registered voters
60,216 ballots cast (47.7%)
Governor - 59,954 votes (238 undervotes)
Attorney General - 59,210 votes (986 undervotes)
Railroad Commissioner - 58,702 votes (1,494 undervotes)
State Senator - 55,360 votes (4,836 undervotes)
City of Bryan - at large - 15,810 votes (3,504 undervotes)
BISD - at large - 5,944 votes (1,346 undervotes)
CS City Council - 19,885 votes (7,253 undervotes)
CSISD - 23,276 votes (7,939 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2021 general election (State propositions, school districts)
129,301 registered voters
10,474 ballots cast (8.11%)
State Prop 1 - 10,294 votes (180 undervotes)
CSISD trustee - 5,864 votes (1,179 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2020 general election (presidential)
121,587 registered voters
85,598 ballots cast (70.40%)
President - 85,061 votes (537 undervotes)
Senator - 84,161 votes (1,376 undervotes)
US Rep - 82,374 votes (1,695 undervotes)
Judge - Court of Criminal Appeals - 81,566 votes (3,733 undervotes)
City of Bryan Propositions - roughly 24,000 votes (4,000 undervotes)
BISD at large seat - 28,795 votes (8,614 undervotes) - winner won by 265 votes
CS city council - 30,785 votes (9,885 undervotes) - winner won by 5 votes
CSISD - 32,384 votes (13,305 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2019 general election (State propositions, city council)
114,542 registered voters
15,960 ballots cast (13.93%)
State Prop 1 - 15,499 votes (461 undervotes)
CS city council - 6,166 votes (573 undervotes)
Bryan Mayor - 5,950 votes (287 undervotes)

and some who check the presidential box and then write in someone else down ballot, lol.

There should be an intelligence test.

Mr.Short-termMemory said:

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FlyRod said:

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George Costanza said:

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That could work for the cities and county, but the school districts at least locally have 3 year terms. The answer to your question though is because, at least theoretically, down ballot elections in presidential or even congressional years get drowned out by the big races.

---

How so? Is the assumption people check the prez box or congressional box and leave the rest blank?

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Not an assumption. This happens a lot. I'll try to look at get some numbers to show.

ETA:

Not quite leaving blank, but the percentage of eligible voters in the local races is significantly less than those races at the top of the ballot

Brazos Votes results page
undervotes - voted a ballot, but did not cast a vote in that race
I picked the top races on each ballot then spot checked a few others on each ballot
note the 2020 CS City Council race - winner won by 5 votes - 9,885 undervotes

Brazos County - November 2024 general election (presidential)
132,601 registered voters
92,626 ballots cast (69.85%)
President - 91,961 votes (662 undervotes)
Senator - 91,745 votes (879 undervotes)
US Rep - 90,331 votes (2,295 undervotes)
Chief Justice - 10th Court of Appeals - 63,906 votes (20,882 undervotes)
Brazos County proposition - 77,278 votes (7,321 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2023 general election (State propositions, school districts)
126,280 registered voters
19,817 ballots cast (15.69%)
State Prop 1 - 19,503 votes (314 undervotes)
CSISD trustee - 8,815 votes (2,231 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2022 general election (gubernatorial)
126,229 registered voters
60,216 ballots cast (47.7%)
Governor - 59,954 votes (238 undervotes)
Attorney General - 59,210 votes (986 undervotes)
Railroad Commissioner - 58,702 votes (1,494 undervotes)
State Senator - 55,360 votes (4,836 undervotes)
City of Bryan - at large - 15,810 votes (3,504 undervotes)
BISD - at large - 5,944 votes (1,346 undervotes)
CS City Council - 19,885 votes (7,253 undervotes)
CSISD - 23,276 votes (7,939 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2023 general election (State propositions, school districts)
129,301 registered voters
10,474 ballots cast (8.11%)
State Prop 1 - 10,294 votes (180 undervotes)
CSISD trustee - 5,864 votes (1,179 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2020 general election (presidential)
121,587 registered voters
85,598 ballots cast (70.40%)
President - 85,061 votes (537 undervotes)
Senator - 84,161 votes (1,376 undervotes)
US Rep - 82,374 votes (1,695 undervotes)
Judge - Court of Criminal Appeals - 81,566 votes (3,733 undervotes)
City of Bryan Propositions - roughly 24,000 votes (4,000 undervotes)
BISD at large seat - 28,795 votes (8,614 undervotes) - winner won by 265 votes
CS city council - 30,785 votes (9,885 undervotes) - winner won by 5 votes
CSISD - 32,384 votes (13,305 undervotes)

Brazos County - November 2019 general election (State propositions, city council)
114,542 registered voters
15,960 ballots cast (13.93%)
State Prop 1 - 15,499 votes (461 undervotes)
CS city council - 6,166 votes (573 undervotes)
Bryan Mayor - 5,950 votes (287 undervotes)

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Thanks for this!

FlyRod said:

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George Costanza said:

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That could work for the cities and county, but the school districts at least locally have 3 year terms. The answer to your question though is because, at least theoretically, down ballot elections in presidential or even congressional years get drowned out by the big races.

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How so? Is the assumption people check the prez box or congressional box and leave the rest blank?

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That and voters are less likely to research down ballot candidates/issues when they are bombarded in all the other electoral races.