Off-cycle and underrepresented: A look at Sarasota's voter turnout problem

A whopping 84 voters under the age of 30 exercised their democratic rights in this month's municipal elections — that’s less than 3% of registered voters in that demographic.

The dismal voter turnout, which is becoming the standard in local municipal elections, was foreshadowed the week before at an equally poorly attended City Commission candidate debate hosted by YPG at Ringling College of Art and Design.

The problem of low voter turnout, especially among the younger demographic, has been an ongoing issue surrounding municipal elections in Sarasota for years.

This year, between the Sarasota City Commission and Longboat Key Town Commission elections, less than 6% of registered voters younger than 56 participated.

"It’s disappointing that we have an opportunity to have a big say in our city's politics, yet no one cares to show up to vote," says YPG Chairman Chris Laney.

But what’s the root of the problem?

Some point to the nature of off-cycle elections. Held in March, they’re intended to remove partisan politics from local contests (an intention that was obviously a failure this year), but instead, they've proven to result in lower voter turnout — especially among younger voters, who tend to hit the polls in the fall during major elections, or over hot-button issues, such as the medicinal marijuana amendment.

Non-white voters are also underrepresented in these types of elections, as shown in data from the latest City Commission contest.

Minority voters accounted for a 14% turnout in District 2, and less than 7% of non-white registered voters participated in District 3. On the flip side, twenty-seven percent of registered white voters participated in District 2, while 18% of white District 3 voters participated.

Does that seem fair and equitable?

And how about saving some scratch? Moving the municipal elections to the fall could save city taxpayers as much as $100,000, due to the economies of scale of coordinating with the larger elections.

David Morgan, who ran for the District 2 seat on the City Commission, and District 3 candidate Matt Wooddall both advocated for moving city elections to the fall to draw more voters. District 3 challenger Shelli Freeland Eddie has also voiced support for moving elections to the fall.

Incumbents Eileen Normile and Stan Zimmerman and District 2 challenger Liz Alpert want to maintain March elections.

Not surprisingly, Morgan and Woodall — the youngest candidates — were trounced in the March 10 election by at least 18 percentage points and failed to qualify for a May 12 run-off.

There’s the rub: As long as the powers that be keep off-cycle elections in place, the voters who want change will remain disenfranchised.

Candidates who have progressive views for the city will continue getting stomped, as will any efforts to move the elections to the fall.