In other Township Council action, the council passed a resolution, 4-1, in support of state legislation that would give nonpartisan municipalities the choice of holding their elections in either May or November. Currently, municipalities like West Windsor hold theirs in May. The argument in favor of the move is that it would increase voter participation because general elections traditionally see higher voter turnouts, and it would save the township money.##M:[more]##
Council President Will Anklowitz said that even if the legislation passed, he would prefer to create an ordinance that would give residents a referendum question asking when they preferred to hold the election. He said that moving the elections to November could save the township about $40,”000 in costs.
Councilwomen Linda Geevers and Heidi Kleinman said they were concerned that moving the municipal elections to November, where partisan elections are held, would lead people to make decisions regarding municipal candidates based on their beliefs of candidates running in the general or presidential elections at that time. Township Clerk Sharon Young said after the 4-1 vote, with Kleinman voting against it, that presidential elections never fall on the same year as the municipal elections.
The State Assembly actually passed the measure on June 23. The legislation also includes a provision capping the nonpartisan municipalities that can chose to move their elections to November to those that have populations between 17,”500 and 26,”000. Some township officials said they predicted West Windsor had already surpassed that population, with almost 28,”000 residents. Borek suggested sending a letter to the Senate asking it to adjust that language before passing it.
Councilman Charles Morgan said that “nonpartisan politics is an oxymoron.”
“This is local government,” he said, adding that elected officials here have been able to work together regardless of their political parties, and he didn’t feel holding the election in November would change anything.
