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Q&A
Commissioner Laremont seeks clarification on the partisan impact of even-year elections
1:02:50
·
78 sec
Commissioner Anita Laremont asks John Ketchum to expand on his statement that research shows moving local elections to even years lacks a discernible partisan impact, acknowledging the political concern that such proposals aim to hurt Democratic candidates.
Ketchum references academic research indicating that increased turnout from election timing shifts does not systematically favor one party over the other.
Laremont requests that these citations be included in his written testimony, emphasizing the importance of addressing the partisan impact question.
Anita Laremont
1:02:50
I have a question, about something you said.
1:02:53
You said that, research shows that this construct doesn't have a discernible partisan impact.
1:02:59
Could you just, you know, expound on that?
1:03:02
Sure.
John Ketchum
1:03:02
Thank you for the question.
1:03:04
So research done by Zolt professor Zoltan Heisnau, for example, and justice to Benedictus Kressner, have shown that, even though you are, in some cases, doubling the, voter turnout, that that does not systematically, or consistently benefit one political party over the other.
1:03:25
So you could expect to have the same outcomes per se, but you're increasing democratic participation.
1:03:32
So this is not an attempt to help one party over another.
1:03:37
There's no insidious motive behind it.
Anita Laremont
1:03:40
Well, thank you.
1:03:41
And I think that's really important because I know that as we consider this, that's one of the big issues that people raise that we are trying to ensure that Democratic candidates can't win, which I think is not true in any respect.
1:03:55
We're just considering how more people can participate.
1:03:59
So if you could just make sure that that is cited in your, testimony to us, I think that would be helpful.
John Ketchum
1:04:06
I will be sure to do that.
1:04:07
Thank you, commissioner.