School elections

1. School elections Nicole Thuotte School Finance Specialist Elections, Tuition, Impact Aid

2. Let’s play a game! • The instructions are simple – we’ll look at a variety of election related issues and you tell me what’s right and wrong!

3. Candidate Filing • Forms needed for candidate filing: • Declaration of Intent • Oath of Candidacy • Nomination Petition • Form C-1-A Statement of Candidate

4. Candidate Filing • Candidate qualifications • Registered to vote • Resident of the district for at least one year • If a joint district may reside in the HS district, but not within the EL district

5. Candidate issues • A candidate who withdraws after 5:00 pm on the day before ballot certification may have their name removed from the ballot if ballots haven’t yet been printed. • A write-in candidate may distribute stickers for electors to put on the ballot. • A write-in candidate must file a Declaration of Intent in order to win the election.

6. Calling the election • What’s wrong with this resolution? (Trustee Resolution Calling For An Election)

7. Mail ballot elections • What’s wrong with this mail ballot plan? (Mail Ballot Written Plan, Timetable and Instructions)

8. BalloTS • What’s wrong with this ballot? (Sample Ballot)

9. Election notice • What’s wrong with this election notice? (Notice of Annual School Election, Mail Ballot Election)

10. Election by acclamation • Notice is required when canceling a trustee election • Notice is required when canceling a levy election. • A district may cancel an election for an EL trustee and run the election for the HS representative.

11. Absentee/mail ballots • Ballots received without a signature, or with an unverifiable signature should be marked “provisional”. • If a ballot is returned as “undeliverable” the elector should be contacted as soon as possible. • Absentee/mail ballots should not be opened prior to election day.

12. Absentee/mail ballots • Which of the following are acceptable places of deposit for absentee/mail ballots: • The ledge on the office window • The pedestal in the school foyer • The clerk’s desk • The post office counter • The county election administrator’s office in another town

13. Late registration • Notice of the close of regular registration must be posted only in the county where the school is physically located. • Late registration must be conducted at the office of the county election administrator. • Any elector who registers prior to the close of the polls may vote in the election. • A late registrant goes to the polling location on election day to obtain a ballot.

14. Election day • Districts may use any elector within the county as an election judge in the case of an emergency. • Election judges must inform the elector of any write-in candidates that have filed a Declaration of Intent. • Ballot counting may be started before the polls close.

15. Provisional voters • Which of the following situations would require an elector to cast a provisional ballot: • The elector is a late registrant; • The elector fails to sign their mail ballot affirmation; • The elector’s name does not appear on the register;

16. Provisional voters • The elector has until 5:00 pm on the day after the election to provide verification for a provisional ballot. • The elector may send in their verification if it’s postmarked by election day. • Provisional ballots not resolved on election day may not be counted until after 3:00 pm on the sixth day after the election.

17. After the election • The canvass should be scheduled for no earlier than the Monday following the election (May 8, 2017). • At the canvass trustees may request to inspect voted ballots. • The purpose of the organizational meeting is to elect the chair and appoint a clerk.

18. After the election • The canvass and the organizational meeting can occur on the same night. • Trustees may request the county election administrator conduct their elections at any time.

19. Election forms • All election calendars, handbook and forms are available on the OPI School Finance webpage: http://opi.mt.gov/Finance-Grants/SchoolFinance/Index.html?gpm=1_6

20. Pending legislation • HB 83: Cleanup bill from last session. • Notice of close of regular registration is the responsibility of the county, not the school district. • Election notice must include where and how late registrants may obtain a ballot on election day. • Require notice of election by acclamation (old language ways “may” instead of “shall”.

21. Pending legislation • HB 86: Authorize youth election judges. • HB 103: Election judges and absentee ballots. • Election judge training prescribed by the Secretary of State. • Notice of how and when absentee ballots will be counted.

22. Pending legislation • HB 287: Revise absentee ballot list confirmation laws – eliminates the need to re-apply for absentee status is subsequent elections. • HB 401: Removes campaign finance exceptions for school elections (campaign finance reporting would be required for all candidates and issues, regardless of expenditures).

23. Pending legislation • SB 256: Bill transfers most school election duties to the county election administrator and requires mail ballot elections for school elections – FAILED • SB 297 – Allows property owners (non-residents) to vote in school elections.

24. Questions??? Nicole Thuotte School Finance Specialist Tuition, Elections, Impact Aid (406) 444-4524 nthuotte@mt.gov