RECOMMENDATION #29

Increase marketing efforts related to local elections as a means to increase voter awareness and turnout.

There are about 50,000 registered voters living in Lewisville, but turnout in local elections is often less than 5 percent. Increased voter turnout would result in residents who are more engaged and who are more likely to support election results even if they disagree with the outcome. This, in turn, could reasonably be expected to increase public participation in other City decision-making processes and to encourage more candidates for local elected offices.

The City is prohibited from advocating for or against any specific candidate or ballot initiative. However, the City is able to notify the public about upcoming elections so long as it is done in a consistent and neutral manner.

Currently, the City uses digital billboards, social media and website posts, and newsletter articles to notify residents about upcoming local elections. There is no formal plan in place to coordinate this effort and ensure that it is used consistently in connection with each local election.

Community Relations staff will develop a plan to coordinate current and new communication outlets to increase voter awareness of local elections. The plan will be completed and implemented prior to the local election scheduled for May 2021.

City staff also will approach LISD to explore options for ensuring that new voters (high school seniors) understand the importance of participating in local elections.

Status: Complete

Completed Actions

• Tools used in the May 2021 mayoral election were again used for the November 2021 bond election. Although turnout was lower in November than in May, it was higher than in many previous bond elections. The same set of tools will be used for all future city elections, and new opportunities will be evaluated annually. City staff is working with Denton County to maintain a second polling place in the southern half of the city for the May 2022 election, and to potentially add a third polling place in east Lewisville.