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Committee recommends against allowing partisan school-district elections; sponsors cite turnout goals
Summary
The Senate committee voted to recommend 'inexpedient to legislate' on House Bill 356, which would have allowed school districts to hold partisan elections. Sponsors argued labels could boost turnout; school boards and municipal associations warned about added partisanship and closed-door caucusing.
The Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee voted in executive session to recommend “inexpedient to legislate” on House Bill 356, which would have allowed school districts to hold partisan elections.
An unnamed sponsor introduced the bill to permit partisan labels on school district ballots. The sponsor argued that party labels can increase voter turnout in low‑participation local elections, and that partisan organization could encourage candidate recruitment and caucusing that energize voters.
Representative Ross Barry, chair of the House Election Law…
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