East Lansing voters rejected a charter amendment to move City Council elections from odd- to even-numbered years. Precinct-level results show voters in precincts on Michigan State University’s campus made the difference.

The proposal failed by 378 votes in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election, with 7,197 voting no and 6,819 voting yes, according to unofficial results from Ingham County and Clinton County.

In campus precincts 10-13, the amendment received 1,033 yes votes and 1,652 no votes, a rejection margin of 619. The remaining precincts collectively favored it by 241 votes.

Had it passed, the amendment would have required the council to move city elections to even-numbered years, according to the official ballot language. East Lansing’s council members are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections.

Sarah Reckhow, an MSU political science professor who helped organize the campaign in favor of the amendment, told East Lansing Info she believed the ballot caption’s emphasis on extending current members’ terms may have discouraged student support.

The caption noted the amendment “would extend the terms of current officeholders by one year” and that “even if approved, the City Council must take action to finalize the move of City elections to even years,” according to the official proposal list.

Opponents included Mayor Erik Altmann and Councilmembers Mark Meadows and Steve Whelan, according to the opposition campaign’s website. The campaign argued that even-year elections would raise campaign costs and give party organizations more influence in nonpartisan contests.

Turnout surged

A total of 17,618 ballots were cast in East Lansing precincts, according to unofficial results from the Ingham and Clinton County clerks’ offices. That represents a roughly 25% increase over the approximately 14,000 ballots cast in the 2022 midterm, according to East Lansing Info.

Health care committee passes; school board seat pending

Voters approved four other charter amendments. A proposal to create a Citizens’ Advisory Healthcare Action Committee passed with more than 70% support, according to the county results. Three additional amendments addressing council meetings, the city clerk and city contracts also passed.

Reporting published Nov. 4 had not identified the winner of a fourth East Lansing Board of Education seat. Only three candidates appeared on the ballot for four open seats: Abbie Tykocki, Tali Faris-Hylen and Delia Fernandez-Jones each won a seat.

Three registered write-in candidates sought the final spot: Scott Farver, Timothy Schmitt and Abigail Wright-Geddes. Ingham County’s Nov. 4 summary lists 1,944 unresolved write-in votes without a breakdown by candidate.

City Clerk Emily Gordon indicated Wednesday that more would be known starting Thursday, Nov. 5, East Lansing Info reported.

All results remain unofficial pending canvassing and certification.