Missouri Legislature Votes to Move St. Charles County School Board Elections to November

Missouri lawmakers passed a bill that would move St. Charles County school board elections from a yearly April ballot to the November ballot every two years. 

Supporters of the measure argued that voters would be better represented, because more people vote in November than in April. 

Opponents argued it would cause difficulty for new school board, because the November election would come after the school year has started and the budget has already been approved by the sitting board. 

St. Charles County Director of Elections Kurt Bahr says his team is ready to implement the changes, if Governor Kehoe signs the bill into law.  

“I know we can make it work. We always do,” Bahr says. “In essence we’re a pilot program to see whether school board elections should be moved to November when more voters turn out.”

The bill would also give candidates who run for St. Charles County school boards the option of declaring their party affiliation to appear on the ballot beside their name. 

Also, the legislation requires St. Charles County school districts to put all tax proposals and bond issues on the November ballot.

Governor Kehoe is expected to sign the bill into law, Bahr says.