vision2020
Re: Elections.
Jerry-
I believe there is a relatively simple answer at
least as to Trustee elections. First Idaho Code
sets the date for the election at the third
Tuesday in May. So any other consolidated
election would have to be held on the same day.
Second, the school district zone boundaries
don't match up with any other election
boundary--city, county, precinct. In elections
where there would be only one voting site, it
might be possible (but slower) to work around
that problem. The school election officials have
to verify that every elector who shows up
actually lives in the appropriate zone--a slow
process--particularly since the boundaries were
changed (again, required by state law) after the
2000 census.
Third, Idaho Code--for no discernible reason and
unlike any other elections--requires a special
written oath be signed before an elector can
vote (each election). (sec 33-405)
Fourth, there are some statutes that specifically
state how a school district election will be
conducted and by whom.
The result is that in order to have school district
elections concurrent with any other election it
would probably be necessary to have only one
voting site and ballot could not be consolidated--
thus requiring voters to pass through two voting
procedures (lines)--one for the school election
and the other for whatever other issues are
being voted upon--again assuming that the other
election issues aren't required to be determined
on a specific date other than the one required
for the school election.
Mike Curley
On 15 May 02, at 15:25, Jerry L. Schutz wrote:
Date forwarded: Wed, 15 May 2002 15:25:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Jerry L. Schutz" <jschutz@moscow.com>
To: "Vision2020" <vision2020@moscow.com>
Subject: Elections.
Date sent: Wed, 15 May 2002 15:25:57 -0700
Forwarded by: vision2020@moscow.com
Thank you Dale & Mike for bringing the LMT
article
and the Zone1 MSD Election to my attention.
I happen to live in MSD Zone 1. I didn't realize
there was yet ANOTHER school district election
that I need to go vote in next Tuesday. Isn't
there some way to consolidate all these trips to
the polls and ballots, and election expenses?
Why
couldn't I have either cast this ballot at the
Bond Levy a couple weeks ago or at the Primary
Elections on May 28th? I thought Idaho passed
election consolidation laws years ago? Oh, that's
right; school districts, highway districts and
sewer/water districts are exempt. Can someone tell
me why they are exempt and why they can't plan all
of their elections on the May and November dates?
When ARE the North Latah County Highway District
Elections anyway?
Jerry L. Schutz
PS: I urge everyone to find out which Zone you
live in, and if you do live in Zone 1, you go out
NEXT TUESDAY and vote for whomever you believe
will best represent you on the Moscow School
Board. If you can't vote NEXT TUESDAY, you can
stop by the polling location, the MSD School
District Offices, and vote absentee. While I'm
at it, don't forget the County/State Primaries are
Tuesday May 28, polling location are at the Latah
County Fairgrounds, absentee ballots are at the
Courthouse. Exercise your rights, go vote!
Jerry L. Schutz
Back to TOC