The city is obligated to place a referendum on the November ballot about moving the city’s election dates, but first, it must make a series of decisions related to the potential change.

The referendum will ask voters whether the city should move its elections from March and May of odd-numbered years to August and November of even-numbered years. The Decide the Date campaign gathered more than 4,700 signatures to send the proposal to voters.

Although most of the focus has been on the dates, there are other changes that would go along with the new election schedule, if approved by voters. For example, the proposed system stipulates that City Commission candidates would always be elected in November, when turnout traditionally is highest.