ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Roanoke City Council voted Monday night to move Election Day for city council members from may to November.
The issue has been hotly debated over the past few weeks, with 23 people speaking during the public hearing.
Those in favor say it will increase voter turnout, while those opposed – including former Roanoke Mayor David Bowers – say it will politicize local elections.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our Roanoke elections are more akin to state elections than to national elections, and I ask you not to nationalize our local, municipal elections,” he said.