Local Government Election Practices

Traditional local election methods—district, at-large, and hybrid approaches—are changing. There is a movement toward election reform. The purpose of Local Government Elections is to sort through and make sense of the various, sometimes complex, election system options at the local level. The book provides an introduction to local election practices and a review of traditional election methods. Also addressed are the issues, potential solutions, future trends and implications regarding local government elections. In addition, two appendices detail the National Civic League’s suggested election guidelines for both city and county governments. While most published works on election practices focus on the federal and state levels of government, Local Government Elections is one of the few that deals solely with the city and county units of government. Complete details are given for such practices as the ward system, at-large plurality system, combined system, limited voting, cumulative voting, proportional representation, and alternative voting, and their myriad variations.

Roger L. Kemp, Ph.D., ICMA-CM, has been a city manager on both the East and West coasts for more than 25 years. He is presently Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Golden Gate University and a Fellow of The Academy of Political Science.

Edited by Roger L. Kemp

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 503
Bibliographic Info: tables, references, bibliography, appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2006 [1999]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2843-4
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments iv
Preface 1

Part I: Introduction      7
Part II: The Laws and the Systems      51
Part III: National Studies and Trends      139
Part IV: State Studies and Trends      317
Part V: County and City Studies and Trends      361
Part VI: The Future      449

Appendix A: Model City Charter Election Guidelines      469
Appendix B: Model County Charter Election Guidelines      476
About the Contributors      483
Index      487

• “an exceptional handbook on local government…an outstanding presentation of current issues and possible solution[s] in local government effectiveness…essential”—ARBA
• “highly recommended”—findarticles.com