Ballot question: Odd to even elections

The St. Paul residents who sponsored a petition to amend the St. Paul City Charter received certification in August from the St. Paul City Clerk that they have obtained a sufficient number of registered voter signatures. The Charter Amendment petition seeks to move St. Paul City elections from their current odd year settings to the same year as presidential elections.
For a number of years the city of St. Paul has held elections for its mayor and its city council in alternate odd years. The turnout by the registered voters of St. Paul has been significantly lower in the odd year elections than it has been for the even year elections. Combining city elections with the presidential year election should increase voter participation and eliminate more than $1million in costs associated with each of the odd year city elections.
The city attorney has approved the title and language of this ballot question as follows:
Title: Changing City Elections to Presidential Election Years.
Shall Chapter 7 (Elections) of the City Charter be amended as follows: Sec. 7.01.- City elections. The election of city officers and such other officers as are required by law to be elected at a city election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd numbered presidential election years. Notwithstanding Section 2.02 of this Charter setting four-year terms, and to transition to presidential election years, councilmembers elected on November 7, 2023, shall serve a five-year term and a mayoral election shall occur on November 4, 2025, for a three-year term.
Currently, city elections take place in odd years. A “yes” vote changes City elections to take place in presidential election years, which occur in even years. A “no” vote keeps City elections in odd years.
More at www.odd2evenstp.com.