North Augusta may move elections from spring to November

City leaders say spring elections are expensive and turnout is low. November elections could fix both.

“We had about 15% voter turnout this last year, which is abysmal,” North Augusta City Councilman Dennis Briatico said. “We want to give everybody the opportunity to vote.”

City elections are currently in April, off the federal cycle. That costs the city roughly $10–14,000 each election — just for staffing and administration. An extra $14,000 may be needed for runoffs.

“We could use that in many other places, like for the animal shelter or for a senior center possibly. Or for more scholarships for kids to play sports through the rec center.”

Low turnout is tied to April elections and consolidated polling places. Moving elections to November could make it easier for working voters to participate.

“Many of our citizens leave North Augusta and go to Aiken Evans, Augusta, Martinez, Beach Island to work. And their employers aren’t gonna understand why their employer is asking them to go leave the vote in a local election ”

Council can legally move elections. Current terms would be six months shorter. Future votes would align with federal cycles — November 2026, 2028, 2030, and so on.

“I even suggested, making local elections nonpartisan. I worry with maintaining partisan elections that it gives people opportunity to vote that straight ticket and that they really won’t know who that they’re voting for on the local level.”

Officials say the change would simplify polling, reduce confusion, and give working voters a better chance to participate.

“People that were getting off of work and were showing up to their normal poll polling place right as the polls were closing, closing only to find out that their polling place had been consolidated and they had to go somewhere else to vote and they didn’t up end up having enough time to vote.”

Once approved, it takes just two readings, and the new election dates could be official next week.