Why Missouri Should Move School Board Elections to November
Tuesday morning, February 3rd, the Senate Education Committee will hear SB 1002, a bill that would move Missouri school board elections to November, when most voters already go to the polls.
This reform is long overdue. Right now, our system keeps voters out and protects school boards from real accountability.
School Board Elections Are Decided by a Handful of Voters
School boards make major decisions. They approve budgets, hire superintendents, set curriculum direction, and shape the culture of local schools.
Yet across the country, school board members are often elected by a tiny share of the public.
According to the Left-wing Center for American Progress, many school board elections are decided by just 5 to 10 percent of eligible voters, sometimes even fewer.
When school board elections are held separately from major races, turnout in some districts falling as low as 3 or 4 percent.
In many cases, voters are not even given a choice.
School board seats frequently go uncontested, leaving families with no meaningful way to approve or reject the direction of their schools.
This is not representative government.
Off-Cycle Elections Are the Core Problem
Low turnout is not a reflection of how much Missourians care about education.
It’s the predictable result of holding elections off-cycle, often in the spring, when few voters are paying attention.
Political scientists have known about this for years. Off-cycle local elections dramatically suppress turnout compared to November elections.
An FGA study found voter participation was more than five times higher when school board elections were aligned with statewide elections.
The 74 found similar results, with consolidated elections producing broader participation and more representative outcomes.
Elections held on obscure dates quietly discourage participation simply because many voters do not even know they are happening.
Low Turnout Breeds Frustration and Distrust
Missourians are increasingly frustrated with their school boards. Parents feel ignored. Taxpayers feel shut out. Decisions feel distant and unaccountable.
Low-turnout elections make this worse.
What to Watch For: Turnout Without Information Is Not Enough
As lawmakers consider election consolidation, one risk deserves attention.
Moving school board elections to November is a major improvement. But turnout alone is not reform if voters still lack basic information about who they are voting for.
When ballots list only names, with no party affiliation, no clear policy positions, and little public discussion, many voters are left guessing. That may raise participation numbers, but it does not create real accountability.
In low-information elections, insiders and incumbents still hold the advantage. The public shows up, but meaningful choice remains limited.
Real reform means more voters and clearer choices.
That means partisan elections.
It’s not perfect, and Liberals will run as Republicans in rural areas. But, voters will have more information about the people they’re voting for in low-information elections and will be able to participate more effectively.
A Simple Reform With Real Benefits
Missouri already trusts voters to make decisions about presidents, governors, senators, and constitutional amendments in November. We should trust them to choose their local school board members at the same time.
SB 1002 is a modest reform with meaningful benefits. It increases participation, improves accountability, and restores confidence in local education governance.
If school boards are doing a good job, higher turnout should strengthen them, not threaten them.
SB 1002 moves Missouri in the right direction. Elections should be easier to find, easier to understand, and our elected officials easier to hold accountable.
Andy Bakker
Executive Director
Liberty Alliance USA