The News: In our new report, Enhancing Democracy: The Benefits of Holding School Board Elections in the Fall, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) highlights how moving school board races to November could bolster public interest in local school board governance. Currently held in April, these “off-cycle” elections suffer from low voter turnout and often lack representative engagement. Shifting these elections to November would align them with higher-turnout cycles, fostering broader public involvement and more balanced representation. 

The Quotes: WILL Research Director, Will Flanders, stated, “People across the political spectrum should support the goal of increasing participation in our local elections. Local school boards make decisions every day that often impact our lives more than who occupies the White House. By moving these elections to November, we can ensure more voters can have a voice in these decisions, ensuring greater accountability.” 

Our Key Findings: Across the United States, school board elections and educational policy have become an integral aspect of our political environment. School board elections and members ought to be representative of the community they serve. However, the undemocratic nature of off-cycle school board elections in Wisconsin fosters low voter turnout and skewed representation. 

In Wisconsin’s fall general elections, we see an average of 64% voter turnout (according to the AP, it was estimated at nearly 73% in the 2024 Presidential Election). Meanwhile, spring school board elections only see an average of 28%. This massive discrepancy leads to underrepresentation and allows external forces like unions, super PACs, and outside groups to exert larger influence over election outcomes. 

School board election data indicates that endorsements from special interest groups have substantial influence over results. When a candidate is endorsed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, they win 79% of the time, and this increases another 2.5% in contested races. 

Candidates endorsed by Democrats win over 77% of the time, while Republican-endorsed candidates win only 52% of the time. Even though school board elections are non-partisan, partisan discrepancies are clear. Left-leaning groups have a higher success rate endorsing candidates than right-leaning groups, and these differences are magnified in low-turnout elections. 

Furthermore, moving school board elections to the fall would align Wisconsin with the majority of states. Currently, 29 states from varying political persuasions hold their school board elections in the fall. Only 13 states, including Wisconsin, hold them in the spring.  

The Bottom Line: To guarantee our elections represent our population’s interests fairly, we should alter Wisconsin law so school board elections correspond with the fall general election. Increasing participation in these elections is a crucial step to navigating the politicization of our school boards and the resulting policy. As education becomes a front line for political action, we must adapt our school board elections to best preserve democracy and guarantee fair representation for the families the schools serve. 

Read More:  

• Enhancing Democracy: The Benefits of Holding School Board Elections in the Fall