Changes Could Come to School Board Elections After State Legislature Approves Bill

A new bill was passed in New Jersey's state senate on Monday that would give local school boards the authority to move the annual board of education elections from April to November as well as the option of eliminating the public vote on the school budget if it's at or below the state's two-percent levy cap.

The bill was introduced in early December 2011 and passed by both houses. Now, Gov. Chris Christie has to sign the bill by Jan. 17 for it to go into effect. 

Local boards have three ways of implementing the new bill, if they so choose. A local school board or a local municipality can introduce a resolution, or the measure can be decided by a public referendum. 

Besides moving the elections to November—which, proponents say, will increase voter participation—it would eliminate a vote on the school budget if it's at the 2 percent cap. (The budget was approved by the public.)

Municipalities are already allowed to move city council elections to November. In July, , , keeping the council elections in May.