Why does Phoenix keep having special elections when most voters don't show?

The $500 million Phoenix bond election underway leaves something to be desired.

Not because of its worthiness. An overwhelming majority of the projects the bonds would fund are necessary and welcome.

Or even because of supporters’ sales pitch that it wouldn’t raise the tax rate. Though anti-tax foes would contest that assertion and, further, have a point that approving the bonds amounts to paying more taxes over time.

It’s the timing.

Bonds are all that's on the ballot

Yes, it’s a good thing that the special election is held on Nov. 7, the first Tuesday of November, when general elections are held.

Except it’s happening in an odd year, when there’s nothing else on the ballot and turnout is low.

Which, ironically enough, would make more sense back when Phoenix held its elections for mayor and city council in odd years.

But Phoenix moved, by a public vote in 2018, to change the city charter and switched the mayoral and city council elections to November of even years in conjunction with state and federal elections and boost voter participation.

And it has worked.

Turnout in candidate elections went from no better than 21% in 2015 and 2017 to 77% in 2020 and 64% in 2022. (The election for mayor and four of the council districts are held in presidential election years; the remaining four districts in the midterm election years.)

All signs point to another low turnout

Smart money says the turnout for the 2023 Phoenix GO Bond Program election will fall far short of the 64% reached last year.

Now, there’s strong likelihood that voter participation will best the turnout for the previous special bond election, in March 2006, in which fewer than 1‌ in 6 voters (15.8%) approved $878.5 million in capital spending.

But that’s hardly encouraging.

Phoenix's bond program: Is worth 4 yes votes

Of the half dozen special elections Phoenix has held since 2000 that did not involve a mayor or city council race, turnout has topped 29% but once.

And that was the 2014 election on proposals to reform the city’s retirement system, held the same day as the federal midterm elections and drew 43% of voters.

Phoenix should rethink its election timing

It’s understandable why fiscal conservatives accuse Phoenix’s special elections of allowing city hall insiders and special interests to have an outsized influence.

Former Arizona Republic columnist Bob Robb derisively called them “by-invitation-only elections.”

Robb inveighed: “If Phoenix city government wasn’t a liberal enclave, the left might call it voter suppression.”

Phoenix officials may want to pay attention. If turnout doesn't exceed 50%, perhaps they should rethink the timing of special elections.

If they truly value voter participation, that is.

Reach Abe Kwok at akwok@azcentral.com. On Twitter: @abekwok.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix holds special elections when most voters don't show. Why?