Turnout at the May 3 school board election may be significantly higher than last year’s school board election if the number of absentee ballots are any indication.
Township clerk Jeannie McCreery and elections coordinator Karen McArthur have received more than 300 requests for absentee ballots, more than the number of total voters in last year’s school election. The reason for this, they believe, is the election consolidation act which took effect Jan. 1.
Under new election laws, schools will no longer conduct their own elections. Instead, local governmental units will conduct school elections and residents will vote at general election polling places for all elections. Elections can be held the fourth Tuesday in February, and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May, August, and November. Voters will always have the same election venue regardless of what they are voting for.
Because the school elections are being conducted by local government officials, it also means that absentee ballots are automatically sent to all voters over the age of 60 and persons who are registered as permanent absentee voters. School officials sent absentee ballots only upon request for school elections in the past.
‘A much larger percentage of voters will participate, because they have been informed there is an election,? said McCreery.