Elections: Part One

Elections: Part One

State and Local Elections

  • Overview of State and Local Elections

    • State and local elections receive significantly less attention than federal elections.

    • They constitute approximately 96% of elections in the United States.

    • Trends observed in state and local elections:

    • Increased professionalism.

    • Higher costs associated with elections.

    • Greater attractiveness to outside groups.

    • Profoundly uncompetitive nature.

    • Generally low levels of voter turnout.

Professionalism in Ohio

  • Characteristics of Ohio Legislature

    • Full-time commitment:

    • The Ohio legislature has no constitutional limit on the length of sessions.

    • Lawmakers can meet year-round, allowing them to dedicate significant time to legislative responsibilities.

    • This continuous operation helps balance the power of the executive branch and facilitates informed policy decisions.

    • Substantial compensation:

    • Ohio legislators receive ample compensation, roughly around $71,000 annually.

    • In 2024, there were discussions on increasing legislator salaries.

    • Staff size:

    • The legislature is supported by approximately 425 staff members during sessions.

    • Staff includes personal assistants, committee staff, and non-partisan professionals from agencies such as the Legislative Service Commission (LSC).

    • The LSC provides legal expertise and assists in drafting legislation.

Professionalism in Texas

  • Characteristics of Texas Legislature

    • Part-time commitment:

    • Constitutionally, the Texas legislature can convene for only 140 days in odd-numbered years.

    • Compensation:

    • Legislators receive a monthly salary of $600, with an additional per diem of $221 while in session.

    • Staff size:

    • Texas legislature employs about 2,165 staffers.

Local Elections

  • Differences in Local Electoral Rules

    • Three significant ways local electoral rules differ from higher-level elections:

    1. Non-partisan elections:

      • Over 75% of city council and mayoral elections are non-partisan.

      • Nonpartisan elections tend to attract lower voter turnout.

      • However, all electoral candidates maintain partisan affiliations.

    2. At-large elections:

      • Less than 20% of cities utilize exclusively district-based systems.

      • Just over 20% employ a mixed election system.

      • The majority operate on an at-large election basis.

    3. Off-cycle elections:

      • Local elections frequently occur in odd-numbered years.

  • Consequences of Local Election Differences

    • Leads to lower voter turnout.

    • Elections focus more on issues that are unique to the community.

    • Exploration of what constitutes ‘community issues.’

State Elections

  • Term Limits:

    • Most states impose limits on how many terms a governor can serve, usually set at two terms.

    • A significant minority of states also restrict terms for state legislators.

  • Professionalism Compared to Congress:

    • State legislatures are generally less professional than Congress:

    • Work as part-time jobs.

    • Typically lower salaries than federal counterparts.

    • Operate with smaller staff sizes.

    • Have less time in session overall.