During the recent weather crisis, when schools were shut to save energy, several school districts were stuck going ahead with school board and bond elections.\u00a0 The voter turnout was as low as you guessed it would be.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s past time to change the way we run school elections in New Mexico.\u00a0 If we think systematically, perhaps we can solve several problems at once, increase voter participation and save taxpayer money.<\/p>\n
The state constitution (Article 7, Section 1) requires that\u00a0 \u201cAll school elections shall be held at different times from other elections.\u201d\u00a0 To change this antiquated provision, we need a resolution passed by the Legislature and approved by the voters.<\/p>\n
Measures are in the Legislature this year.\u00a0 The simplest proposal is in both House and Senate Joint Resolutions 16, proposing to remove the problematic sentence from the state constitution, leaving us free to figure out what to do next.<\/p>\n
Two alternatives, HJR 11 and HB 450, propose to hold school elections by mail or to add them to the general election ballot. To both these measures, may I respectfully say, No, please.<\/p>\n
Do you remember how long the general election ballot was last year?\u00a0 Let\u2019s not add anything else to general elections, please!<\/p>\n
Several years ago, the Ciudad Water and Conservation District, which hardly anybody had heard of, briefly stirred public outrage by holding an underpublicized and underfunded mill levy election, where angry voters stood on long lines because there weren\u2019t enough polling places.\u00a0 This well-intentioned group didn\u2019t have the resources to run an election properly.<\/p>\n
There are special districts like this all over the state: irrigation, water and sanitation, conservancy, even hospital districts.\u00a0 They have similar problems.<\/p>\n
The same concerns apply to non-partisan municipal elections, when voter turnouts are usually discouragingly low.\u00a0 What if all these little local elections were held together, sharing expenses and increasing participation?<\/p>\n
I proposed this some 15 years ago, but I let the idea languish.\u00a0 Now, with budget crunches on all sides, maybe New Mexico is ready for this simple approach.\u00a0 I call it \u201cunified community elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
Experts in election logistics argue that it\u2019s not possible to coordinate conflicting statutory dates, wildly incongruent boundary lines and different eligibility requirements.\u00a0 You simply can\u2019t put together a ballot.<\/p>\n
To which I say, don\u2019t try to produce a single ballot.\u00a0 Establish a \u201ccommunity election day\u201d for all non-partisan elections..\u00a0 Let there be separate booths and separate ballots for each entity — paper ballots and cardboard boxes if necessary.\u00a0 Let voters walk from booth to booth, voting where they qualify.\u00a0 This method creates a draw for voter participation, encourages community groups and news media to pay attention, saves money by pooling costs of space and advertising, and gives voters greater incentive to take time to exercise the basic responsibility of citizenship.\u00a0 Gee, they might even hang around and chat, like neighbors.<\/p>\n
Over time, it will be possible to reconcile some of the inconsistencies and simplify further.<\/p>\n
This is a call to action for everyone who is involved with a special voting district.\u00a0 It\u2019s your chance to jump in and get involved — by using school election reform as the springboard for all special district election reform.<\/p>\n
Today, we just need HJR\/SJR16 to pass the Legislature.\u00a0 Then we can talk seriously about how to get non-partisan elections right.<\/p>\n
Triple Spaced Again, \u00a9 New Mexico News Services 2011<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
During the recent weather crisis, when schools were shut to save energy, several school districts were stuck going ahead with school board and bond elections.\u00a0 The voter turnout was as low as you guessed it would be. It\u2019s past time … Continue reading