NEWS TITLE: -- Kern Bill to Increase Voters for School Board Elections Advances

NEWS DATE: -- Feb 24, 2010

DETAILS:

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an attempt to increase voter turnout for school board elections, state Rep. Sally Kern filed legislation to require that school board elections be held on general election dates.
 
HB 3307, by Kern, would combine school board election dates with November general elections in even-numbered years, and require elections in odd-numbered years to be conducted on the second Tuesday of November.
 
“Presently only about 8 to 15 percent of eligible voters vote in a school board election,” said Kern, R-Oklahoma City.  “Education is such an important part of our society that we should make it easier for more people to vote in these elections.  Having the election in November to correspond with general elections will result in more voter participation as people are already used to voting at that time.”
 
Kern noted that school bond issues are often scheduled in February and just this year Crutcho passed a $1 million school bond by a vote of 11 to 3, dramatically illustrating the problem. 
 
“This shows the need for more voter participation so 11 people don’t have the power to approve $1 million in debt for everyone,” said Kern.
 
House Bill 3307 passed the House Common Education Committee today and now proceeds to the House floor for a hearing.