Committee approves bill to place party affiliation next to school board candidates’ names

The Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee on Feb. 14 voted to pass Senate File 98, a bill that would require a candidate’s party affiliation to appear next to the name of a school board trustee on the general election ballot.

The committee adopted a package of amendments and voted 7-2 on a roll call to pass the bill out of committee. Chairman Knapp announced, “With your approval, Senate File 98 does pass the committee.” The roll call recorded seven ayes and two noes.

Senator Olsen, the bill sponsor, told the committee the bill’s “only change … is that a party affiliation has to appear next to the name of the candidate running for school board.” He said the intent was limited to the general election and aimed at making ballot styling clearer for voters.

Committee members moved first to reverse an earlier amendment from a prior meeting that had, among other changes, removed community college trustees from the bill’s coverage. Vice Chairman Locke moved to reverse that prior amendment, with…