Assembly committee advances bill to move county board of education elections to November

The Assembly Elections Committee on July 2 voted to pass SB 249 (Umberg), a bill that would require elections for county boards of education to be held at the statewide general election rather than at primary contests.

The sponsor, Senator Tom Umberg, told the committee the change aims to increase voter participation in these important county-level contests. "The county board of education ... is incredibly important. In order to enfranchise and to include as many people as is practical, this bill moves that election from the primary to the general," he said.

The League of Women Voters of California testified in support. Savannah Jorgensen, legislative representative for the League, told the committee that primary turnout is lower and less diverse, citing Secretary of State participation statistics: "Turnout in…