School board elections moved to November in even-numbered years

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed two new laws requiring all school board elections be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in even-numbered years, according to the Ann Arbor Journal, meaning “fully 90 percent” of Michigan’s 550 public school districts will have to alter their election schedule in some way.

The Ann Arbor Journal reports only 51 Michigan school boards currently hold elections in November of even-numbered years. The majority of school boards (328) hold elections every May. Of the rest, 38 districts hold elections in odd-year Novembers, 109 hold an election every November, and 24 hold elections in May of odd-years. The state estimates the move will save districts around the state between $7 million and $8 million annually, the Journal reported.

Implementing the new law will affect some term lengths, as in Ann Arbor where four school board trustees will now see their terms extended, according to the Journal.

SOURCE:

The Ann Arbor Journal, “New Laws Move School Board Elections to Even-Year Novembers, Starting in 2012,” Dec. 3, 2011

FURTHER READING:

MichiganVotes, “2011 House Bill 4006 (Require school elections be in November to revise details in the state election law to conform with the election consolidation provisions proposed by House Bill 4005)”