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Senate panel votes to add party labels to school board ballots over objections that it will politicize local boards
Summary
Senate File 98 requires political party affiliation to appear on general-election ballots for school board trustee candidates. Supporters argued it increases transparency and may boost turnout; opponents said it will politicize local governance and not improve voter information.
The Senate Education Committee voted to advance Senate File 98, a bill to require candidates for school board trustee to have their political party affiliation printed on the general-election ballot. The committee approved the measure on a 3–2 roll call and sent the bill to the full Senate.
Proponents, including Secretary of State Chuck Gray and several advocates, said listing party affiliation would give voters clearer cues about candidates' values and could improve engagement. "This bill provides a transparent means by which voters can see the party affiliation of candidates for school board trustee," Secretary Gray told the committee, and he urged the panel to…
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