The Kansas House approved a measure that would move local elections to the fall in odd numbered years by a 64-58 vote Thursday. It now goes to Governor Sam Brownback.

It is likely that Brownback will sign the bill, considering the move was included in his State of the State address back in January.

Rebecca Bossemeyer, Geary County Clerk explained that she can hold elections in either April or November, but she believes the fall is better.

“It will clean up some areas that were of concern to county election officials. We have to send ballots 45 days prior to an election to our overseas citizens, and with the current city/school calendar we were having to send out for a primary we didn’t even know we were going to have, and it was before the filing deadline. For the General Election we were sending out ballots before the primary had even been held,” said Bossemeyer.

She went on to say that it is probably a better move in terms of election administration, and she does not anticipate any cost increases associated with the move.

Other supporters of the move say it would boost voter turnout because people are used to voting in the fall. Critics say it would force elected school  board members to take office in the middle of fiscal years, which could disrupt the budgeting process.