LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Board of Supervisors recently changed several school district board election cycles, switching to even-numbered years rather from odd-numbered.
The change affects the Mendocino-Lake Community College, Lake County Board of Education, Upper Lake School Districts, Lakeport Unified School District, Kelseyville Unified School District and the Lucerne Elementary School District.
Lake County Office of Education Superintendent Brock Falkenberg said the reason for this was to align districts with Senate Bill 415. The bill, which will take effect in January of 2018, requires a 25 percent voter turnout for non-statewide elections. If that cannot be met, subdivision elections will not be allowed.
Since the School Board elections generally fall below 25 percent turnout on the odd-numbered years, the change is expected to increase voter numbers.
“We are looking for at least 25 percent and we do not get this on odd numbered years,” Tina Scott District 4 Supervisor said. “We are hoping to get more input when electing our School Board Members.”
With a greater turnout in the even-year elections and it could lead to a both cost reductions in the election because they would all share the expense, Falkenberg said.
“These elections will now align with the presidential and general elections,” Falkenberg added. “We want voter turnout and voter input and if there are more voters on the even years than odd it would benefit the Boards.”
These elections will align with general and presidential elections, they will be all a part of the same voter packet. This will make it both simpler and easier for voters.
The Senate Bill was first passed by Gov. Brown back in 2015 and Falkenberg said this is their last chance to make the change and get a higher voter turnout. He added that the South County schools had already changed to even years in the 1990s to help reduce cost on their elections and get a higher turnout.
The cost and the range between the odd years and even years were unknown to Falkenberg.
“We’re just trying to comply with the Senate Bill,” Falkenberg said “Having a greater turn out will lead to more diversity in the election and impact our Board.”
