Lynchburg to hold local elections in fall for first time, expert weighs in on impacts

LYNCHBURG Va. (WSET) — In Virginia, local elections are now on the ballot in lots of cities and counties this upcoming Election Day, including Lynchburg.

Moving the elections from May to November could shake things up.

The move could affect how many people show up at the polls for local elections compared to years past.

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Legislation passed in the general assembly last year moved local elections from May to November.

This is the first time Lynchburg is holding local elections in the fall.

Dr. David Richards, the Chair of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Lynchburg, said the idea behind this legislation was to boost voter turnout and he thinks that's exactly what will happen this election.

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"We'll definitely see a higher turnout I think than we've seen previously for City Council races. We won't see the kind of turnout that you get in a presidential year," Richards said.

Richards also said the change may help Republican candidates.

He said he thinks they're motivated and with this being a midterm election, often the party in power has a lower turnout than the party out of power.

Richards adds there's no reason voter turnout wouldn't be higher this election, but whether the change will have an impact on what kind of candidates will be elected, we'll have to see.