If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes regarding school district governing board elections by requiring that candidates' political party affiliations appear on the ballot alongside their names and the title of the office they are seeking. Currently, candidates are listed without any partisan designation. The bill specifies that the partisan designation will reflect the political party of which the candidate is a qualified elector 150 days prior to the primary election. This change aims to provide voters with clearer information about the candidates' political affiliations.

Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to the language of the existing statutes and establishes that these amendments will take effect for elections held on or after January 1, 2026. The current provisions regarding the filing of nomination petitions and the presentation of candidates on the ballot will remain largely unchanged, except for the new requirement to include partisan designations. Overall, the bill seeks to transition school district elections from a nonpartisan to a partisan format.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-422, 16-502, 16-322, 16-314
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-422, 16-502, 16-322, 16-314