Most seem to agree that a proposal to consolidate elections will help voters.
Some wonder, however, who will help the clerks who must administer the elections.
‘It will absolutely mean more work for city and township clerks,? according to Nancy Strole, Springfield Township clerk.
If the proposal becomes law, the traditional June school elections ? and special school bond votes on random dates ? would be history, and all elections would be limited to four times a year.
The legislation, backed by state Rep. John Stakoe (R-Highland Township) would require school board elections to take place in odd years with either the November general election or in May of odd years. February and August would be other allowable election months (although the governor could call for other special elections).
Stakoe, who represents Independence and Springfield townships, is among supporters who say the new system would save tax dollars and make life easier for voters.
‘The general consensus seems to be that we have a fairly good set of bills,? Stakoe said.
The Michigan House of Representatives has passed the legislation, and Stakoe believes the Senate will do likewise.
‘The main thing is the voter will not be confused,? Independence Township Clerk Joan McCrary said. ‘It will be a routine, like a holiday. We will all know election days.?
The new law, if adopted, would require local clerks to administer all elections, but McCrary does not believe it will have major impact on her office. While this is the first year in memory that Clarkston Community Schools administered their own election, McCrary was an unofficial consultant to the school district.
‘It won’t make much difference,? she said. ‘It would be very rare for us to have four elections in a year.?
Springfield Township Clerk Nancy Strole is a bit more cautious, because her township is divided among three school districts, and precinct lines do not always coincide with school district boundaries.
For example, Springfield Township has ‘a few dozen parcels? located in the Brandon school district, with the rest of the township divided between the Clarkston and Holly school districts.
Stakoe said the idea is for all voters to vote in their general election precincts, even if some may have to use two ballots.
‘There have been some discussions on how that could be worked out,? he said.
Although the new legislation promises reimbursement from school districts for election administration, Strole said that’s not the only issue. For example, she wonders if school board candidates and school ballot issues can be accommodated with everything else in a November election.
‘Physically, there may not be enough room on the ballot,? she said.
‘We’re dealing with four [potential election] dates,? Stakoe said, and there was also an amendment allowing a school district to petition for a ‘floating? election date, so he believes room on the ballot will not be an issue.
Strole said there is a provision for the county clerk to step in when there are multiple-jurisdiction problems, but she has questions about that, as well.
‘The county clerk is really not set up to run elections on the grassroots level,? she said.
Clarkston Deputy Superintendent Dave Reschke just completed his first tour of duty as an election administrator, and has gained new appreciation for the work involved.
Reschke supports the idea of fewer elections and savings to the taxpayer. He believes there is an advantage to having school elections separate, however, given already largely ignored elections for judges and university regents on the regular ballot.
‘School elections are always the same day every year,? he said. ‘I’m also wary that people might not focus on their school districts and get to know their board members.?
McCrary said the answer to that is simple: ‘It will be up to the candidates and the school districts to get the information out to the voters.?
‘The opportunity is there for the schools to schedule their election in May,? Stakoe said, and other issues can be handled through an ‘election committee? consisting of school and municipal election representatives. The Secretary of State would be the final arbiter of any conflict.
‘There’s a mechanism in place to work out the problems,? Stakoe said.
If the new legislation becomes law, the point will become moot, but Reschke said his ‘leaning? right now would be to recommend that the district continue to run their own elections.
‘We’ll take as much responsibility as we can for our elections,? he said.