School Board Elections

Abstract

This study measured voter turnout in school board elections when elections were scheduled in even-numbered years rather than odd-numbered years. A study was made of voter participation is 22 school districts in Riverside County, California. The study measured the voting patterns in school districts that scheduled school board elections in even years as opposed to elections conducted in odd years. Research findings show that there is a significant difference in voter turnout between those districts conducting elections in even-numbered years and those districts holding elections in odd-numbered years. Since 1985, districts that scheduled elections in even years averaged a 43.85% voter tumout, whereas school board elections in odd years averaged 20.79% during the same period.