The Town of Fountain Hills will no longer be able to use an “all-mail” ballot for elections consolidated with Maricopa County for county, state and federal elections.

This means that when voters turn out for next year’s elections they will have polling stations for casting their ballots.

The changes, however, do not eliminate the mail ballot by request.

At its Nov. 5 regular session the council approved amendments to Town Code to comply with recent changes to state law related to election rules.

One of those changes requires the town to move its council and mayoral elections to the fall of even years.

The primary is held in August with a runoff if necessary in conjunction with the November General Election. The town already implemented this change with its 2014 council election cycle.

The council had previously established an “all mail” procedure for its elections.

Former Councilwoman Ginny Dickey said the town in 2011 decided on the all-mail elections to increase voter turnout, make voting accessible and convenient and ensure local issues didn’t get lost “deep” in the ballot.

Other than legal action on the part of non-charter municipalities affected by the new law, Dickey said there was little that could be done at this point.

“The Legislature is wholly responsible for this disruption and voter suppression, under prime sponsorship by those supposed to be representing Fountain Hills, Michelle Ugenti and John Kavanagh, with support from then Sen. Michele Reagan,” Dickey told the council last week.

“Our unanimous (Town Council) vote…to engage all our citizens was hijacked.

“Their goal of skewing non-partisan elections into this biased result, despite their protestations and promises, has finally been realized. Literal assurances nothing would change, particularly by Rep. Ugenti right here in this room, were not honored.

“It’s a shame that the concept is convoluted and hard to explain, as voters could be flooding this meeting…not to necessarily ask council to do anything but to shine a light on this election scheme that mocks our local democratic process.

“Voter turnout has decreased overall, and as the county can attest, particularly for down ballot races like, for example, Fountain Hills mayor.”

Other changes

Because of the new state laws, Maricopa County notified the town that it is not able to conduct “all mail” elections for towns or school districts held in the August and November cycles.

As a result, polling stations will be established for each voting district in town. There were five districts at the last election.

The town will be able to hold “all-mail” elections for town-only elections for bonds or other issues that are held at times other than the consolidated elections.

The changes do not eliminate the voter’s ability to cast a ballot by mail.

Voters will still be able to request an early ballot and can remain on the early ballot voter list.

Kristi Passarelli, assistant director with the Maricopa County Elections Department, told the council that in the Nov. 2 election 97 percent of the ballots were cast by mail.

The council vote also changed the method in which votes are calculated to determine whether a runoff is needed following a primary election. This was also done to be consistent with the change to state law.

The number is still 50 percent of the votes plus one, but the calculation base has been changed from the number of total ballots cast in the election.

It is now based on the actual number of votes cast for the candidates in the town election, rather than the overall ballot.

The assumption is that not all voters who cast ballots in the consolidated election will vote in the local races and the change in base makes the calculation more equitable.

After the State Legislature changed the election law it was challenged by the cities of Phoenix and Tucson on the basis that their charters gave them full authority in determining their local elections.

The courts agreed, so all cities with charters may continue to determine their own election rules.

Fountain Hills does not have a charter and as a “general law” town is subject to state laws regarding elections.