Ypsilanti school district considers moving elections
The Ypsilanti school board will take public input at its Dec. 14 meeting on whether to move school elections from May to November.
Holding elections in May, when it's the only item on the ballot, cost the district roughly $30,000 the last two years. Putting it on a November ballot would mean those costs would be shared with any other ballot initiatives.
If the board switches the dates, it must figure out how to change the term lengths of current board members whose terms would be affected.
Several audience and board members also expressed concern over the school board candidates getting lost at the bottom of the ballot in a general election or being subject to partisan voting, which it largely doesn’t see under the current arrangement.
Action will either be taken Dec. 14 or at a special meeting before the end of the year.
Comments
Tom Bower
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 : 6:38 p.m.
I agree with YpsiLivin's comments, and especially those concerning special elections. The November general election date is the time for all ballot proposals -- end the "stealth" elections.
Basic Bob
Thu, Nov 26, 2009 : 12:53 p.m.
This is a good step to save money and give voters a say. Special elections always have lower voter turnout, effectively keeping many voters out of the process. Many school boards use special elections as a tool to get one over on the voters, because it is easy for them to stuff the ballot box with special interests.
YpsiLivin
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 11:38 p.m.
See? $30,000 of taxpayer money saved without even thinking too hard about it. Elections not held along with the August primaries or the November general election are a waste of money. I never forget to thank the groups who insist upon wasting my money and time by asking me to come to the polls for "special" elections; I always vote "No" on their special election ballot initiatives, and I never vote for the incumbents. The mere fact that they're holding a special election indicates to me that they're comfortable with wasting my money, and frankly, I don't want too many of those types in office. Special elections should be barred except in the case of a mid-term vacancy in office. No group (including the schools) should be allowed to have a special election for a ballot initiative. In more than 25 years of voting, I have yet to see a ballot initiative that couldn't wait until the general election in November, but time and time again, I've seen greedy public institutions justify the lightning speed with which they "needed" to dip into the taxpayer's pocket.
ypsilistener
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 2:41 p.m.
School board candidates are well known for talking to the people, whether door to door, at PTO meetings, or at public forums. Don't disparage them by your insinuation to the contrary. You act like they are lazy, but they are probably the hardest working public servants we have, and they do it strictly as volunteers.
Martin Church
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 12:31 p.m.
aghast, it means the voters need to study for the ballot. What a novel idea. Let's move have one election and be done with it instead of the current 4 elections in one year. It also means the canidates have to get out and talk to the people. Let's move the elections