Jill Adler Grano and Matt Benjamin: Robust election turnout is fundamental to democracy

By Jill Adler Grano and Matt Benjamin, on behalf of the People for Voter Turnout campaign, published in the Daily Camera

Across the country, there is a concerted effort by the GOP to limit the number of people who participate in our democracy. Since January 2021, eighteen states have enacted 30 separate laws that analysts believe will make voting more difficult. Right-wing proponents of voter suppression claim that “quality” votes matter more than “quantity.”

We believe that robust voter turnout is fundamental to democracy. Michelle Obama said it best: “When we all vote, we get new ideas and new energy. We get leaders who share our values and listen to our voices. That’s how we change America.”

This November, Boulder voters have an opportunity to reinforce the importance of voter turnout by voting “yes” on a ballot measure that will move Boulder’s off-cycle local elections to even years, when state and federal elections take place.

Research and empirical data show that voter turnout is significantly lower in off-years than during state and federal elections. Boulder is no exception to this rule. For example, voter turnout in Boulder’s off-cycle local elections in 2019 and 2021 was 51% and 49%, respectively. Voter turnout in Boulder’s even-year elections in 2018 and 2020 was significantly higher, at 83% and 90%, respectively.

Low turnout in Boulder’s off-cycle elections means that important local issues, including decisions made on housing, transportation, climate change and public safety, to name a few, are determined by a limited group of voters. According to the American Political Science Review, “Low and uneven turnout is a serious problem for local democracy. Fortunately, one simple reform — shifting the timing of local elections so they are held on the same day as national contests — can substantially increase participation.”

City officials make critically important decisions that affect all of us. Our city leaders should be chosen by the same broader electorate that chooses our state legislators, U.S. senators, representatives and our president.

Moving local elections to even years elevates the importance of local issues and candidates because more people participate in the discussions and process.

Cities and states across the nation have recognized that moving to even-year elections is necessary to address the inequities caused by off-year elections. Those enacted reforms have already demonstrated increased voter turnout in local races.

In 2015, the California legislature passed the California Voter Participation Rights Act, which mandates jurisdictions to move to even-year elections if voter turnout was 25% lower in off-years than in even, as is the case in Boulder. Los Angeles was one of the cities required to move their local elections to even years, and the resulting data shows a 150-400+% increase in voter participation in their local races. Data from cities across the country that have moved to even years show similar results.

Those that oppose even-year elections like to generalize and negatively stereotype voters who are less likely to vote in off years. But what can we learn about who is left out and why? The data shows that the additional voters who turn out in even years are people of color, people of lower incomes, young working families, students and young professionals.

Protecting the status quo is neither democratic nor the spirit from which Boulder became known as one of the best cities in America. We have the opportunity to significantly expand representation in city council elections to include people that have historically been marginalized and left out. This is why New Era Colorado, by far the most significant champion of voter rights and voter turnout in Colorado, enthusiastically endorses the measure.

Democracy works best when all of our voices are heard. As current and former city council members, we don’t fear more voters. Rather, we see opportunities to reach further into our community to hear the concerns, wishes, and aspirations of a broader, more representative electorate. Do you believe democracy is strongest when more people vote? We ask you to join us in saying yes.

Jill Adler Grano and Matt Benjamin are former and current members of the Boulder City Council, respectively. Jill is the chair of People for Voter Turnout, a group supporting the ballot measure to change Boulder’s local elections to even years.