Even-year municipal elections proposed for Minneapolis

A member of the Minneapolis Charter Commission is asking the city council to move municipal elections to even-numbered years.

Commissioner Devin Rice says his proposal will save the city money, increase minority representation and lead to higher voter turnout.

"I would submit that the city would be much better served if it were 150,000 or over 200,000 Minneapolitans voting in their city elections versus the mere 46,000 that voted in 2009," he said.

Even-numbered years have higher turnout because of elections for statewide offices, including governor and U.S. senators.

The 2009 election was a low point in Minneapolis voter participation, but more voters are expected to turn out this year because of a hotly contested mayor's race. However, Rice's proposal would not take effect until 2018.

The Charter Commission referred the proposal to the City Council Wednesday without recommendation.