Norton's Bill Reducing D.C. Special Election Waiting Period for Council Passes Subcommittee Today
Norton's Bill Reducing D.C. Special Election Waiting Period for Council Passes Subcommittee Today
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's (D-DC) bill, H.R. 5702, to reduce the waiting period for holding special elections to fill vacancies on the D.C. City Council today passed the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia. Current law requires the city to wait 114 days before holding a special election to fill a vacant seat. This provision, however, will reduce that waiting period to 70 days.
In 2006, Ward 4 and Ward 7 city council posts were vacated and remained vacant for months during a municipal election year, prompting the city council to introduce the Special Election Amendment of 2007. Norton's bill follows the city council bill by requiring the D.C. Board of Elections to fill a vacant city council seat on the first Tuesday occurring more than 70 days after that vacancy arises, unless the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics determines that the vacancy can more practicably be filled in a special election within 60 days from the day on which a special election would otherwise have been held as enacted by Congress.
"Today's bill ensures a responsive electoral process," said Norton. "The provision will allow the city to more quickly fill city council seats and avoid delays leaving citizens for extended periods without representation. It is bad enough for residents still to be without voting representation, despite our voting rights bill that had more than enough support for passage. The District should at least be allowed to fill local vacancies as soon as possible."
For the past several years, Norton has introduced an omnibus authorization bill to enact legislation needed by the District but requiring Congressional approval. Norton developed the omnibus authorization bill to improve efficiency in the handling of District of Columbia Charter matters, which are of little interest or concern to Congress, but must be approved by Congress before they can become D.C. law. The Congresswoman will soon introduce a charter reform bill to remove the requirement that Congress approve Charter changes, such as those proposed in today's election reform bill, leaving locals matters to the District of Columbia government.