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Published on January 15, 2025
Oklahoma Lawmaker Proposes Shift in School Board Election Timing to Boost Turnout, Save CostsSource: Oklahoma House of Representatives

Oklahoma lawmakers are taking another stab at changing the timing of school board elections with Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby leading the charge. The proposed legislation, House Bill 1151, seeks to align these local elections with the broader election cycles of the House and Senate and is on the docket for the legislative session starting February 3. The move, according to Banning, would not only save millions but also boost voter engagement in these critical, yet often overlooked, governing bodies of education, as detailed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Under the current system, Oklahoma's school districts foot the bill for their own board elections, which in 2023 racked up a hefty $16.8 million in costs, money Banning suggests could be redirected to benefit educators and students. According to the Oklahoma House of Representative Banning said, "This bill is simple—it repurposes millions of dollars for our amazing educators, while providing a more accurate representation of community standards at the polling place." The bill if passed, would see these elections take place during the established cycles, in June and November, instead of the current scheduling of February and April.

Historically, school board elections have suffered from dismal voter turnout, with Banning highlighting a particularly stark example from April 2024, where only 146 people cast their ballots in a Union Public Schools board election. This move, proponents argue, would not just conserve funds but also provoke a greater degree of public participation. It's an attempt to bring the governance of education, the nurturing ground of the nation's future, into fuller view of Oklahoma's electorate, as reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Banning's previous attempt with a nearly identical bill, House Bill 3563, passed the House Elections and Ethics Committee, but stagnated without a hearing on the House floor. HB1151, however, comes back with the hope of gaining traction in the upcoming legislative session. As the issues of education and governance only grow more acute, all eyes turn to Oklahoma's capitol where the choices of today shape the classrooms, and indeed, the very fabric of tomorrow, as per the Oklahoma House of Representatives.