Whittier : Lowell School Elections to Be in Even-Numbered Years

The Lowell Joint School District will change school board elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years to coincide with general elections and to save between $25,000 and $50,000 per election, Supt. Ronald T. Randolph said.

The reason for the savings has to do with the way elections are paid for. Counties prorate election costs among the governmental entities on the ballot. During odd-numbered years, the ballot is smaller, so each jurisdiction involved ends up paying a greater share of costs. The district’s last election cost about $36,000, Randolph said, which works out to more than $14 per student.

The date change, approved unanimously at last week’s board meeting, effectively extends all current board members’ terms by one year. Randolph said some members expressed misgivings, saying that voters could focus more attention on school issues when they appeared on a less-cluttered ballot. On the other hand, Randolph said, the new system will result in more voting on district matters because voter turnout is higher in general elections.

The Lowell district serves La Habra Heights and areas of Whittier and La Habra.