Rockville Voters Prefer Off-Year Elections, Oppose Bigger City Council Body

Rockville voters don’t want city elections to coincide with presidential elections, and they oppose expanding the council body from four members to six.

But city voters do support increasing council terms from two years to four years.

These questions were posed to voters in an advisory referendum in Tuesday’s election. According to the unofficial results, 6,685 ballots were cast in the city’s 10 voting districts. The results include same-day registrations at City Hall and absentee ballots. 

Here’s how voters responded, according to the unofficial results:

1. In the City of Rockville, the term of office for the Mayor and the Councilmembers is currently two years. Do you favor increasing the term from two years to four years? 

• Yes -- 3,548 (53.54%)
• No -- 2,848 (42.98%)
• No opinion - 231 (3.49%)

2. City of Rockville elections are currently held every two years, in odd numbered years. Do you favor moving the City elections to be held every four years to coincide with the Presidential Election? 

• Yes -- 2,767 (41.91%)
• No -- 3,530 (53.47%)
• No opinion -- 305 (4.62%)

3. The City of Rockville is currently governed by a Mayor and four Councilmembers. Do you favor increasing the membership of the Rockville Mayor and Council to a mayor and six councilmembers? 

• Yes -- 2,843 (42.91%)
• No -- 3,345 (50.49%)
• No opinion -- 437 (6.60%)

Election results will become official on Tuesday, Nov. 12.