The Woodlands Township board of directors voted in August to move its annual election from May to November beginning in 2013. The change was made possible by Senate Bill 100, which was passed in 2011. The mandate allows government entities the freedom to hold their elections in either May or November.
Director Gordy Bunch said the township typically sees higher voter turnout for November elections.
"Clearly there is a higher voter turnout in November," Bunch said. "In a democracy, I think we should do everything we can to promote higher turnout."
Director Nelda Blair was in favor of retaining the May election date. She believes voters going to the polls in November may not be as familiar with township issues or candidates as they would in a May election.
"The voter turnout in November, I think, will be a number of people who are coming to vote for Congress or president or vice president, or governor, lieutenant governor or in their state elections, and they will also vote for the township," she said. "But that doesn't mean that's why they were there to vote in the first place. And they may not have the interest in the township election that they would normally have if they were encouraged to come out in May."
Director Mike Bass said he believes the change will result in a higher voter turnout.
"I think the voters will be just as informed in November as they will be in May."
Township directors serve two-year terms. With the change, those directors who would have been up for re-election in May 2013 will serve six more months on the board before the November. Those members are Blair, Peggy Hausman and chairman Bruce Tough.
Jeff Long, Ed Robb, Bunch and Bass won election to the board this year and will be up for re-election in 2014.