AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers on Wednesday greenlit a plan for Dallas to move its city elections from May to November in odd-numbered years.
The legislation, developed by state Sen. Nathan Johnson and state Rep. Rafael Anchía, both Dallas Democrats, would allow the Dallas City Council to follow through with moving elections. ers say the is designed to improve voter turnout.
The bill ed the House with a 129-12 vote and now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.
“This will at least double turnout and strengthen voter participation,” Anchía predicted.
In May elections, just over 7% of eligible voters participated in council elections. Voting rights advocates for years have been looking for ways to improve election turnout.
Last November, Dallas voters approved a proposition to move elections from May to November in odd years. With the Legislature’s consent, the Dallas City Council has until Dec. 31, 2025, to make the change.
“My for this has always been about giving the city the ability to make this choice,” Johnson said.
Local lawmakers worked hard to get authorization to move the election through the Legislature.
It almost didn’t happen.
State Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Prosper, initially refused to allow the bill out of committee.
But city officials and Dallas business leaders lobbied for the bill’s advancement to the House floor.
“Looks like somebody exerted some leverage,” Johnson said.
A day before the bill’s final age, Dallas City Councill member Carolyn King Arnold wrote a letter to Anchía voicing her displeasure with the bill. The letter was sent even though moving the elections was part of the city’s legislative priority package.
Arnold, whose term ends in June, said an “overly robust ballot” would “discourage voters from completing their ballot.”
“It is our responsibility to seek other ways to gain insight to the causes of low voter turnout in our city,” Arnold wrote.
Anchía said he was pleased with how Dallas leaders and activists mobilized to get the bill approved.
“I’m happy for the from the community,” Anchía said. “Getting this bill ed was one of the biggest challenges of my career.”