Commissioner Urges Public to Vote in Annual School Election

Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy is urging New Jersey’s estimated 4.8 million registered voters to participate on Tuesday, April 15 in the annual school election. Statewide, voters will make decisions on 549 local school budgets and choose among candidates to fill approximately 1,500 contested seats on local school boards.

“People have a responsibility to go to the polls every year in April and take part in the school decision process,” Commissioner Davy said. “Historically, the voter turnout in school elections is far below that in any other elections, and I think it is important that we reverse that trend.”

Last year, 13.9 percent of registered voters approved 78.1 percent of school budgets statewide. Polls must be open on school election day between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. School boards may designate additional polling hours between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.