KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2025 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Phoenix Voters to Decide Whether To Change Future City Election Dates

Phoenix voters will decide a number of ballot measures in the August election — one of them would change the dates for city elections.

Right now, the mayor and council members are elected in odd-numbered years. Proposition 411 would move election day to line up with state and federal elections in November of even-numbered years, starting in 2020. Any run-offs would be held the following March.

This decision comes against the backdrop of a new state law approved earlier this year, which requires cities to consolidate their elections if there’s a decrease in voter turnout of at least 25 percent between a given election and the previous two comparable elections.

Consolidated elections in Arizona cities have been controversial in the past, and The Show found two perspectives on this idea — starting with Phoenix Vice Mayor Jim Waring, who supports it.

Waring's City Council colleague Laura Pastor, however, voted against referring the measure to the ballot, and opposes Proposition 411. Pastor explained why she thinks voters should reject this.

Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.