The measure, which would take effect next year, would apply only to elections to pick the mayor, comptroller, aldermanic president and members of the Board of Aldermen chosen by ward.

“Seeing election after election where the vote gets split multiple ways, there’s a palpable desire (among voters) for a better, more fair system,” said Tyler Schlichenmeyer, who chaired the committee behind the initiative petition drive.

But an opponent, Alderman Joe Vaccaro, D-23rd Ward, said “it would kill the Democratic Party” by drastically reducing the influence of ward organizations. Moreover, Vaccaro said, allowing a resident to vote for more than one primary candidate “would make the thing very confusing.”

He also objected to setting up a different system than that used for the city’s so-called county offices such as sheriff and city treasurer, which would continue to be filled in partisan elections in even-numbered years. Petition supporters said state law governs those votes.

Krewson’s top aide, Steve Conway, said the mayor is neutral on the ballot issue and will respect voters’ wishes on it. But he said she has concerns that it would diminish the importance of the Democratic Party.