Correction for "Why I Vote Against Public Schools"
I misunderstood how the supermajority vote works. See below.
Jeff Heckathorn, who studies the financial side of Washington state school districts and writes con statements for ballot measures, sent me a correction on how the supermajority vote works.
I wrote:
My state requires a supermajority for school ballot measures. So, even when most vote yes, if 60 percent of the registered voters don’t cast a ballot, the measure doesn’t pass. In a way, not voting is voting against the measure. On the other hand, a no-vote may actually become a yes-vote because voting no increases the number of ballots cast, bringing the total number closer to the supermajority requirement. Thus, it is tempting not to vote at all.
Here is Jeff’s explanation for bond measures:
Here are the requirements for school bonds:
1) The number of actual votes cast has to be greater than 40% of the actual votes cast in the last general election.
2) Of the votes cast, a supermajority (60%) of those votes have to be for approving the bond.
The first criteria isn't that difficult for most school district areas.
But the 2nd criteria (60% approval) is rather difficult.
Not voting only gives more weight to those who do vote.
Example:
Say there are 100 registered voters.
In the last general election (in November), let's say that 80% of registered voters voted. So 80 people.
So at the following February, April, or August election, if a bond is run, 40% X 80 = 32 people at least have to vote in the election for the election (the bond) to count.
So let's say 34 people vote. That would be enough people voting. Criteria 1 would be met.
Now if 18 voted yes and 16 voted no, the bond would fail because that is only 52% approval of the votes cast.
Now if 21 voted yes and 13 voted no, the bond would be approved because 61% of the votes cast were in favor of the bond. Criteria 2 would be met.
Thank you, Jeff, for giving me a better understanding of this topic. To see more of Jeff’s research, go to LevyNo.com and BondNo.com, part of The School Data Project. Particularly, see "Why February is the Most Popular Election Month for School District Tax Measures."