HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 114

(By Delegates Howell, Barill, Barker, Ellington, Fragale, Givens, Hartman, Householder, Kump, Lane, Mahan, Manchin, Manypenny Miley, J. Miller, Moore, O’Neal, Romine, Shaver, Sigler, Staggers, Stephens, Storch, Talbott and Walters.)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the impact of moving all municipal elections to coincide with the regularly scheduled cycle of state and local elections.

    Whereas, The Legislature recognizes the need for our system of fair and free elections; and

    Whereas, This body has previously attempted to make the election process as simple and efficient as possible to encourage voter participation; and

    Whereas, The Legislature seeks to address concerns that the cost of elections is too great and that the number of those participating in municipal elections is too few; and

    Whereas, The Legislature believes that greater efficiencies to the taxpayer and greater voter participation in municipal elections could be achieved if all municipal elections coincided with the regularly scheduled cycle of state and local elections; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the impact of moving all municipal elections to coincide with the regularly scheduled cycle of state and local elections by January 1, 2021 and study the feasibility of creating legislation consistent with the committee’s findings; and propose legislation to achieve this goal; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the committee shall consider such other information or documentation as the committee may request in order to achieve the goals of this resolution; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the committee report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2013, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.