It's time to limit public voting on local school bond issues to early November - the same date as the general election.
Without trying to influence the balloting on three Gloucester County school district bond issues slated for March 8, we've often asked why these public referenda can take place on so many dates throughout the year.
It's good to hear state lawmakers start to ask the same question.
New Jersey sensibly moved regular school board elections in most towns from April to November several years ago, making them coincide with voting for state and local political offices -- and, this year, for president.
This move boosted participation in school votes, making it possible for election officials to cancel an expensive polling date every spring. At the same time, the school elections were streamlined to eliminate voting on district budgets that raise local property taxes by less than a proscribed annual "cap" percentage.
Somehow, these separate referenda dates -- when school boards ask citizens to OK borrowing money for facility expansions or fix-ups -- have survived among the last vestiges of a strange philosophy to send voters to the polls as often as possible.
Across the state, five school districts (though none in Salem, Camden, Gloucester or Cumberland counties) held bond votes on Jan. 26, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. Next up are the March 8 ones, which include Deptford and Monroe townships, along with towns in the Kingsway Regional School District.
Like the old April school elections, the bond votes are marked by low turnout, plus a wrinkle that many folks think was designed specifically to discourage senior citizens (who might naturally oppose spending millions more tax dollars for schools) from voting. Poll hours are variable and limited, often not starting before 4 p.m. and ending as late as 9 p.m. In January, that's like telling seniors they can vote only when it's dark and cold.
A new law co-sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, standardizes these voting hours, cutting them off at 8 p.m. It was signed Jan. 11 by Gov. Chris Christie. Because the law won't kick in until 2017, March 8 voting in the three Gloucester County districts will go on until 9 p.m.
While welcome, tinkering with poll hours is too little change. School referendum voting should take place on only one day a year -- the same day when regular school elections are held. Right now, that's the first Tuesday in November.
Burzichelli actually advocated that view, though not any specific legislation to cancel the odd-duck referendum dates.
"These non-November elections already don't get the attention they should, and odd polling hours are another distraction. That's why we took the steps we took," he said.
Go for it, assemblyman. While you're at it, separate fire district elections take place Feb. 20 in dozens of New Jersey municipalities including Deptford. Get rid of them, too. Asking citizens to show up at the polls twice in 18 winter days is ridiculous.
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