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Board weighs moving Wayzata school-board elections to even years amid cost and partisanship debate
Summary
Amy Geis, the district election clerk, presented data showing odd-year elections are increasingly rare and costly; trustees discussed costs (about $82,000 in 2023, >$100,000 projected for 2025), turnout patterns and concerns about increased partisan influence if elections move to even-numbered years.
The Wayzata Public School District Board of Education discussed whether to move its school-board elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years during a May 27 work session. Amy Geis, the district’s election clerk, presented data on costs, turnout and statewide trends and answered trustees’ questions about the mechanics and calendar.
Geis said the district spent just under $82,000 on the 2023 election and projects costs could exceed $100,000 if the district runs an odd-year election in 2025. She noted that about 21 of Minnesota’s 331 school districts still hold odd-year board elections and that most neighboring districts have moved to even years. "On average, our neighboring districts pay about $5,700 for even-year elections," Geis said, describing the fiscal difference the district would face if it stopped running standalone odd-year elections.
Board members debated several considerations: financial savings, potential increased partisan influence in even-year cycles, voter turnout and the effect on referendums or revenue questions that sometimes must be held on different calendars. Chair Sahony framed the trade-off as between reducing district expense and protecting nonpartisan focus for school-board races; other trustees echoed concerns about partisanship and about voter attention when school contests appear alongside state and federal races.
Trustees reviewed turnout data Geis provided showing variable participation. Geis cautioned that the votes-cast metric counts ballots processed by machine but does not show under-votes or spoiled ballots and warned against over-interpreting the raw number. The board noted that turnout rose in years when referendums appeared on the ballot, and several members said better voter engagement or stronger candidate campaigns could change turnout regardless of calendar.
Several trustees asked procedural questions: whether the Legislature was likely to mandate even-year elections (Geis said the 2025 session did not pass a statewide change and AMSD reported no indication of immediate action in a possible special session), the July 1 deadline for notifying the Secretary of State if the board wants a November change this year, and how ballot language and the local vote would be structured. Geis explained the likely two-step approach: an initial board vote on whether to change, and, if yes, a subsequent vote to choose whether trustees’ future terms become three- or five-year terms for transition.
No formal change was adopted at the work session. Trustees expressed divided views: some prioritized recurring cost savings and alignment with most districts; others prioritized insulating school governance from partisan influence and preserving a focused, school-specific election cycle. The board will consider next steps and may return the item for a formal vote pending the July 1 calendar constraint and further discussion.
