P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI

2011 School Election Data

On Wednesday, April 27, voters in more than 90 percent of New Jersey’s communities took part in the 2011 Annual School Election.  On the ballot were more than 1,600 local board of education positions, 538 proposed annual school budgets, 11 second budget questions, and eight school-construction proposals.

The New Jersey School Boards Association provides the following information about the April 27 school election:

Post-election coverage:

• Voters Approve 80% of School Budgets –The state’s new tax cap law played a role in voter approval of nearly 80 percent of proposed budgets in the 2011 Annual School Election. Also, 8 of 11 second ballot questions were approved.

• Voters Approve $20.8 million in School Construction – Five of the eight school construction referendums on the April 27th Annual School Election ballot were approved for a total of $20.8 million in construction.

• Chart: School Budget Results, by County
  NJSBA chart providing the voter approval rate of school budgets, by county, since 2001.

Pre-election coverage:

• School Board Candidacy Information – This backgrounder provides county-by-county figures on the more than 2,200 candidates seeking to serve on the 1,612 contested school board seats.

• Facts and Figures about New Jersey’s Annual School Election – This backgrounder provides information on New Jersey’s school elections, such as voter turnout, average length of service for school board members, and the statewide success rate of school budget votes since 1976.

• Annual School Election 2011: Second Ballot Questions – Several years ago, it was common to see 70, 80, or more than 90 additional ballot questions, which typically ask voters to spend beyond state budget caps. This year, only 11 school boards have presented their voters with such second ballot questions.

• Voters to Decide $50.8 million in School Construction on April 27 – Besides electing school board members and deciding school budgets in the Annual School Election, voters in eight school districts will act on $50.8 million in proposed school construction.

• NJSBA’s Voter Resources Center – This resource page contains such information as voter registration resources, vote-by-mail ballots, and NJSBA’s Vote posters. 

The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of 588 local boards of education and includes 44 charter school associate members. NJSBA advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.