The Chesapeake City Council, on a vote of 5-4, rejected an ordinance moving mayoral, City Council, and School Board elections from even-numbered years to odd-numbered years.

The ordinance was introduced in response to the passage of Virginia’s Senate Bill 1157 that requires local elections to be conducted in November rather than May.

Proponents of the ordinance cited concerns about local issues being overshadowed by national issues, while opponents point to higher voter turnouts in even-numbered year elections and Virginia’s long history of connections between voter suppression and odd-numbered year elections for reasons to reject the proposed shift.