Teaneck residents want local elections moved to November

Teaneck voters seeking to move municipal elections from May to November have collected nearly 1,400 signatures from supporters – about 8% of registered voters — but the township council must decide by August 13 if the measure is to go on the ballot in November.

The proposal would retain non-partisan local elections, but to hold them in November when voter turnout is higher.

The deadline for a 2021 referendum is August 13.

Supporters of the change argue that turnout is higher in November and that the municipality could eliminate the $50,000 cost of running a May election.

About 27% of Teaneck voters cast ballots in the May 2020 municipal election, but turnout in the November elections six months later was 75%.

“It makes sense for us to be unified in our voting schedule,” said Reshma Khan, one of the leaders of the One Town, One Vote initiative.   “Besides the obvious advantage of saving the township money, we will also gain a dramatic increase and rich diversity in voter turnout that reflects the essence of Teaneck.”

According to Khan, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) is supporting the ballot question.

Correction: an earlier version of this story misstated the number of councilmembers needed to put the issue on the ballot.