FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Becker: Bill moving school board elections to
the fall general elections heads to House
STATEHOUSE – To possibly improve voter turnout for school board elections, members of the Senate approved legislation moving the elections from the spring primary to the fall general election. Becker, co-author of Senate Bill 2, said it is important to increase voter participation.
According to Becker, the change is intended to increase participation, simplify the election process and bring more accountability to school spending.
Becker said some constituents avoid voting in school board elections because they are held during the primary elections. In primary elections, political parties must be declared. “School board only” ballots are available but voter turnout in those elections continues to be undeniably low.
“I’ve always felt like more people vote in the fall more than the spring,” Becker said. “Some people, because they don’t want to declare a party affiliation, don’t vote in school board elections in the spring. If you move it to the fall, more people will have an opportunity to vote on who their elected school board members are going to be.”
According to Becker, counties currently choose between holding school board elections in the fall or spring. Of the 275 elected school boards in Indiana, 70 percent hold their elections in the spring. Warrick County holds elections in the spring while neighboring Vanderburgh County holds elections in the fall. State election figures show that average voter turnout during 2006 spring elections was 31 percent statewide. That contrasted with the average general election turnout of 71 percent.
SB 2 now moves to the House of Representatives.
Sen. Becker represents Senate District 50, which includes portions of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.
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