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Committee advances bill to shift school elections when they fall on state holidays
Summary
The Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill 292, which would move school board elections that fall on a state holiday to the third week of the month to avoid conflicts (sponsor said the change was needed this year because the election would fall on Veterans Day).
The Senate Education Committee voted to advance a bill that would move odd-year school board elections by one week when they fall on a state holiday.
Senator Kim Hammer, sponsor of Senate Bill 292, told the committee the change arises because this year’s election would fall on Veterans Day. "The election this year is gonna fall on Veterans Day. So what this bill would do is set in place that if an election falls on a day that there is a state holiday that it would be moved to the third week instead of second week," Hammer said.
Chris Madison, director for the State Board of Election Commissioners, said the bill follows existing statutory provisions used for special elections where a holiday requires moving the election date. Hammer and Madison said the bill also contains an emergency clause to adjust the petition circulation period ahead of this November.
Committee members asked procedural questions about the bill’s scope; Hammer said it applies to odd-year school elections and not to presidential election years.
No one spoke in opposition at the committee hearing. The committee approved the bill by voice vote.
Ending: Hammer closed by describing the bill as a simple, preemptive fix to avoid a conflict with a state holiday and thanked members for their support.
