Rockville’s Mayor and Council will consider in February several recommendations from the city’s Charter Review Commission that could change the city’s voting age, the size of Mayor and Council and other elements of city elections.
On Monday, Feb. 6, the Mayor and Council are scheduled to hold a public hearing on recommendations that, if adopted, would amend the city charter to lower the voting age from 18 to 16, permit noncitizens to vote, set term limits, create representative districts, create an administrative process to fill a vacancy on the council, change election years to coincide with presidential or gubernatorial elections, and implement ranked-choice voting. Learn how to testify during the Feb. 6 hearing at www.rockvillemd.gov/hearings and find more information when the agenda is posted at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.
The Mayor and Council must consider whether any of the recommendations should be included as ballot questions for voters to decide when they vote in the city election in November. They are expected to be on the agenda for discussion during the Monday, Feb. 27 meeting.
Also on Feb. 27, the Mayor and Council are scheduled to vote on whether to expand the elected body from five members to seven, comprising a mayor and six councilmembers. A public hearing on the recommendation was scheduled for Jan. 30. Find video of the hearing at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.
To read the commission’s recommendations, find the 2022 Charter Review Commission Report at www.rockvillemd.gov/charter-review-commission.