As voters headed to the polls May 6 to vote on local city council and school board races, some may have wondered why those races aren’t held in November and if that was even an option.

For years city council and school board elections were held in May separate from the November county, state and national elections. However, in 2011 the Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 100, which moved the state’s primary runoff election date to the fourth Tuesday in May. Because the primary runoff election overlaps with the May date, the law allowed cities and school districts the option of holding elections in May and November.

The cities of Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake opted to keep their elections in May as did Grapevine-Colleyville ISD and Carroll ISD.