Town officials in Bancroft are hoping to increase voter turnout and save the town thousands of dollars by "piggybacking" town elections off of the West Virginia and Putnam County elections in 2018.
Mayor George Woodrum said the town's "outdated" election ordinance currently sets municipal elections for the first Tuesday in May in odd-numbered years. The mayor, recorder and town council members serve four year terms,
If approved by the five-member council in September, Woodrum said the town elections would be on the same ballot as county, state and federal elections. Voters would no longer vote for town officials at town hall, but rather at their assigned polling place.
Woodrum said the town typically spends as much as $3,300 on elections, but is hoping to significantly reduce its election expenses by changing the date.
"Hopefully we save a ton of money. When you're a small town that has a small budget every penny helps," he said. "We have about 400 eligible voters, and with 105 people voting [in the last election], it really makes you wonder, dollar figure wise, 'How much am I spending per person to vote?'"
If passed, Woodrum said the town is also hoping to increase voter turnout. By combining the local ballot with the county, state and federal ballot he said town officials are hoping voters would be more motivated to participate in the municipal election.
Passing the amendment would shorten the current council's term by nearly six months. The current terms would expire Dec. 31, 2018, as opposed to June 2019.
"It's still better for the town," Woordrum said. "It's better to get more people voting."
The town is required to read the ordinance at its July and August meetings before voting on the ordinance in September.
County Clerk Brian Wood said Poca and Winfield are already "piggybacking" municipal elections off of the state and county elections.
"It's a one-stop-shop for the voter," he said. "They're voting for the federal, state, county, nonpartisan and municipal elections all in one."
Poca, which first adopted the new election date during the 2014 election, saved nearly $5,000 on election costs, Wood said. The town was previously spending about $6,000 on its elections, but since adding town elections to the county and state ballots, Wood said it spends about $1,500.
Jo Rainey, Poca's town recorder, said changing the date of the municipal elections also helps restore voter confidence in the results.
"It takes a lot of stress off us. It's been great for us. It takes out of the town hall and that way people don't feel like we are controlling the elections," she said. "A lot of people said it just didn't seem right."
Poca has seen a 52 percent increase in voter turnout since 2014, she said.
Winfield, which changed its election date for the first time during the 2016 election, has also seen a significant cost savings.
Gloria Chapman, the city clerk treasurer, said the city has two voter precincts, which it previously hired six poll workers to help manage during city elections.
By changing the date, the city no longer has expenses for election advertising, poll workers and other costs, she said. The county clerk's office now takes on those responsibilities.
Winfield still maintains its two-year terms for elected officials, but saw an increase in voter turnout in 2016 -- largely because it coincided with a presidential election, she said.
"People are already voting in the national election," Chapman said. "They weren't as anxious to vote in the local elections."
Winfield put the issue on its last municipal-only ballot and allowed the town's voters to make the decision, she said.
Wood said Eleanor and Buffalo are also eligible to change their municipal election dates, but are not required to.
Hurricane is not eligible to change its elections to coincide with state and county elections because of issues with the house of delegate districts. The 14th, 15th and 22nd House of Delegates districts all intersect within Hurricane city limits, Wood said. The house districts "do not respect the municipal lines," making them unable to hold the election at the same time, he said.
"Until the legislature redistricts and respects those boundaries we're unable to get that accomplished," Wood said.
Reach Carlee Lammers at Carlee.Lammers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1230 or follow @CarleeLammers on Twitter.