VA legislative subcommittee considers moving “off year” elections

A Virginia legislative subcommittee authorized by the General Assembly has met in Richmond for the first time to consider the idea of consolidating Virginia’s elections. Currently, Virginians elect their state officials in odd-number years, a practice that dates back to the 19th century. Now, lawmakers and stakeholders on the subcommittee have been tasked with considering moving those elections to better align them with even-year federal elections.  The subcommittee will meet several more times this year and next year before making potential recommendations to consolidate Virginia’s elections. That process would then require changes to the state constitution and would take several years.