Model City Charter Revision Project - Eighth Edition
Option Memo
Issue: Nonpartisan Elections
Seventh Edition: Sec. 6.01(c) of the 7th edition currently states
that "candidates shall run for office without party designation."
The Commentary explains that "this edition recognizes that the
election laws of each state apply to municipalities whether or not they
operate with a local charter. Areas of local discretion are few. Among
those discretionary areas may be the provision of nonpartisan elections
and the timing of elections."
Pros: Nonpartisan elections may be appropriate for most cities
because they downplay partisan differences between candidates that do
not necessarily match significant policy differences that are salient
at the time of an election. In this sense, they avoid an unnecessary
source of divisiveness in a community. As a result, voters can focus
on candidates' policy stands and problem-solving skills. It takes the
focus off of party affiliation, and places it on what makes sense for
the city. An incumbent mayor may be the target of the opposition party
organization on the state level because he or she is a potential candidate
for higher office, not because of the quality of performance in the
mayor's office. It can make it easier for members of minority parties
to be elected. The ability to hold nonpartisan elections promotes local
autonomy since the outcome of local elections is less likely to be determined
by national or state political current, and it demonstrates that city
politics differ substantially from state politics.
Partisan differences may be relevant to local policy decisions, e.g.,
positions on privatization and tax cuts at the local level may correspond
to party differences, and nonpartisan elections can be the venue of
efforts to mobilize party supporters. These efforts are less likely
to have substantial impact when the partisan connection is weak. When
elections are partisan, however, parties will be structurally connected
to local elections regardless of relevance. A consequence of partisan
elections is that candidates run first in party primaries with the winners
facing each other in the general election. If one party with a substantial
majority has more than one strong candidate, only one will survive to
be considered by all the voters (including unaffiliated voters) in the
general election, which typically receives far more media attention
and a larger voter turnout. In nonpartisan elections, the top two vote
getters in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, would be the
candidates in the general election.
In sum, there can be advantages to party involvement in elections,
but the institution of partisan elections requires that party always
be the dominant feature in city campaigns. City governments should recognize
that nonpartisan elections can depress voter turnout among voters with
lower socio-economic status and take other measures to encourage voter
participation and citizen participation generally.
Cons: Nevertheless, partisan elections have advantages. Partisanship
is part of politics even when not officially recognized. Parties can
help candidates run better campaigns. Party affiliation conveys information
to voters, who for the most part do not have time to evaluate the effectiveness
or distinguish the claims of each candidate. This is especially important
for voters who without a party cue would be less likely to identify
their stakes in the outcome of an election. Partisan elections offset
the overrepresentation of minority parties. Finally, partisan elections
can assist voters of lower socio-economic status. The mobilization efforts
of parties offset the informational and resource disadvantages of poorer,
less educated voters who are less likely to identify with organizations
other than political parties that might work to promote turnout.
Three Options: The Committee should adopt one of the following
positions by the end of the December 7th meeting:
- The 8th edition shall continue to express a preference for nonpartisan
elections with no changes to the Commentary.
- The 8th edition shall continue to express a preference for nonpartisan
elections with changes to the Commentary that will be decided on Dec.
7th.
- The 8th edition shall express no preference between nonpartisan
and partisan elections. Changes to the Commentary will be decided
on Dec. 7th.
|