Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 10, 1994 TAG: 9402150257
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A16 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Don't we deserve a break?
Consider the maze Virginia voters face just over the next four years:
March 1, 1994 - primary elections (where opted for) for local offices (except constitutional officers) in cities and towns (unless otherwise specified in their charters) and for city school boards (where applicable). This will include a Democratic primary for Roanoke City Council.
May 3, 1994 - general election for above.
June 14, 1994 - primary elections (where opted for) for U.S. Congress, including a Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.
Nov. 8, 1994 - general election for one Senate and 11 House seats in the U.S. Congress.
June 13, 1995 - primary elections (where opted for) for state Senate and House of Delegates seats, for county supervisors, for county school boards (where applicable), for county constitutional officers (except clerk of court), and for city clerks of court.
Nov. 7, 1995 - general election for above.
March 5, 1996 - primary elections (where opted for) for local offices (except constitutional officers) in cities and towns (unless otherwise specified in their charters) and for city school boards (where applicable).
May 7, 1996 - general election for above.
June 11, 1996 - primary elections (where opted for) for U.S. Congress.
Nov. 5, 1996 - general election for president (technically, for 13 Virginia electors to vote for a president), and for one Senate and 11 House seats in the U.S. Congress.
June 10, 1997 - primary elections (where opted for) for governor, House of Delegates seats, county supervisors (if the county has a staggered-term system), county school boards (where applicable) and city constitutional officers (except city clerks of court, who you may recall were elected in 1995).
Nov. 4, 1997 - general election for above.
Exceptionally attentive voter-readers may wonder what happened to the county clerks of court. Clerks, who in a bygone era were main cogs of machine politics, enjoy eight-year terms. County clerks aren't up for election until 1999; their city brethren, on the above schedule for 1995, will thereafter be up for election in 2003.
But why should exceptional attentiveness be necessary simply to keep track of when elections are held? The maze dazes; one campaign blends into the next without respite; the effect is to help produce blank-stare citizens rather than conscientious voters.
Two fixes would go a long way toward simplifying the system, saving money, and lengthening the intervals between elections.
Fix No. 1: Hold all general elections in November of even-numbered years, as most states do, so they will coincide with federal elections.
To avoid mixing presidential and state politics, gubernatorial elections could be held midway between presidential elections. Only House of Delegates elections, because they are for two-year terms, would sometimes have to fall in the years of presidential voting.
Fix No. 2: Hold all local elections at the same time - whether in a city or county, for constitutional office or governing body.
If the clerk of court is to remain an elective post, make it for a four-year term, to be elected at the same time as other local officers. As with state offices, most local elections could be held midway between presidential elections. Only for staggered-term councils and boards would some elections have to be held when presidential races occur.
Virginia's elections calendar is confusing, costly and incessant. The consequences are an enervated electorate, and turnouts for many elections lower than they should or could be. The current calendar may serve the interests of those who prefer a small, easy-to-manage electorate; it doesn't serve the interests of democracy or self-government.
Friday: Time to reform state campaign finances.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB