Alexandria to move date of Mayoral and city council elections

Yesterday,  the Alexandria City Council approved an ordinance to the change the election date of the Mayor and City Council to the November general election cycle.

Following a public hearing on the ordinance, City Council voted 5-2 to approve the ordinance. Staff was also directed to work with Council to develop changes to the City Charter that will improve the transition to November elections.

Va. Code 24.2-221 1 authorizes a city or town to move its election for Mayor and Council to the November general election date. The grant of authority is limited. It provides that the elections may be moved from May to November but does not grant any authority to move the elections back from November to May. The Code of Virginia also requires School Board elections to coincide with the City Council elections, so School Board elections will also be moved to November beginning in 2012.

The ordinance states that the mayor and council shall be elected at the November general election date beginning in 2012. The terms of office for those who are elected will begin on January 1, 2013, immediately following the November election.

For more information, contact Tony Castrilli, Director, Office of Communications, at 703.888.7166 or e-mail tony.castrilli@alexandriava.gov