A push to change the timing of Sarasota’s city elections got a lift Monday with an endorsement from the NAACP. But while leaders of that group see a shift to November elections as a way to boost minority turnout, critics of the measure remain skeptical that city issues would get more attention at the bottom of the ballot than they do now.

Trevor Harvey, president of the Sarasota County branch of the NAACP, released a statement Monday backing the Decide The Date campaign, which wants Sarasota’s city elections held in sync with state and national elections, meaning in the fall of even-numbered years. “Not only does this save taxpayers money, it also increases the overall participation in the African-American community by 86 percent,” says Harvey