To the editor:

I am adamantly opposed to moving our local election from May to November. Our local issues would be swamped by the statewide and national races carrying their parties messages and crowd out the voices of our local elected officials by big-money politics.

If we are interested in voter turnout, I propose a simple solution: Pay people to vote.
This can be accomplished by various methods: A city tax credit, a modest reduction in city fees for an application or a parking ticket, or even through local merchants. Merchants could offer coupons worth dollars off at their establishments for goods and services. This last possibility would be free. The city-funded options would cost less than more studies on the subject.

People not motivated enough by the important political issues our local election ballot would be motivated by money. It works in third world countries; it will work in Alexandria.

Richard Henry, Alexandria