City tables election change

City commissioners put on hold a measure Tuesday night that would have potentially changed the way elections are run for city commissioners.
After some discussion at the regular meeting, Mayor Jay Warren suggested tabling the matter so more information could be gathered.
Previously cities were to have two candidates per seat available, and if they had more than that, the list was pared back to two per seat with a primary. The magic number was seven for Arkansas City to have a primary.
The law was then changed to a 3-1 ration, meaning that there would have to be 10 candidates in Arkansas City to have a primary. The law was changed because some smaller cities objected to the cost involved.
Electronic voting has lowered the cost significantly, so the state now allows cities to revert back to the old system, which is what the measure Tuesday night would have done.
City Manager Steve Archer said the cost would be around $1,000. Previously, without electronic voting, cost could go as high as $8,000 or more.
Commissioner Dotty Smith said even $1,000 was too high, and she said the city should save money and not have a primary if it does not have to. She noted that often it is just one person being eliminated in a primary.
She said there were eight candidates last time, for three seats, and there were no problems.
Archer said a primary gets more people involved in the election process. He said more people tend to vote when there is a primary before the regular election.
City Attorney Tamara Niles said it could split up the vote if there were too many people, and those most people liked best might not win.
The matter was tabled. Primaries are normally held in February, and elections for the city are held the first week in April.

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