LA City Council considers moving city elections to federal/state years

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As California prepares for what could be another low election turnout next week, the city of Los Angeles is looking at a way to increase participation. Proponents believe it would streamline the process, but some say it would be overwhelming.

Council members are considering whether city elections should be moved to coincide with federal and state elections. Those elections usually get much higher turnout. In November 2012 it was 69 percent.

A plan to move city elections from odd years to even years passed 14-1 to place the measure on the March ballot. The proposal still has to go through several more hearings.

The last city election in Los Angeles in 2013 brought record-low turnout. About 20 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

"The voter turnout is in crisis mode. It's an embarrassment," said L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson.

"Consolidating the election date with the federal and state elections would cause the voter turnout to jump by double digits," said Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause.

Experts were brought in to the City Council discuss the issue. They say with so many elections, there is often voter confusion. But some see an even deeper issue.

"One of our biggest problems is that we don't properly teach young Californians how important it is to vote," said Dan Schnur, executive director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. "Most California high schools require only one single semester of civics before a young person gets a high school diploma. And a year later we expect them to turn around and be responsible citizens and responsible voters."

But others say the reason many people don't vote is because they are unhappy with the process.

"People do not find candidates distinctive from each other. The issue of funds from PACs and Super-PACs overwhelm the process. Things are purposely in many instances put on that are confusing," said L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks. Parks was the only council member to vote no.

If the proposal is approved, it would go into effect for the election in 2020.