On July 1st, a new law went into effect allowing County Commissioners of Elections to create vote centers for school and city elections. The flood gave me an additional incentive to create vote centers when 11 poll sites were damaged by the flood (see previous blog post).
The biggest change in the number of poll sites will occur in the Cedar Rapids school district. We are going from 50 precinct poll sites to 20 vote centers. The advantage to voters? They can vote at any vote center within their school district.
School board elections are important for many reasons. For example, if you are concerned about pocketbook issues – remember that schools consume the largest portion of property tax dollars, i.e., from 55%-65% of your property taxes. And the citizens elected to school boards get to decide whether those taxes go up or down.
So if you’re driving to or from work, or to the grocery store, or to school, or going out to eat for lunch/dinner and see a Vote Here sign and you’re in your school district, then take a moment and go in and vote. Click here to view the Vote Centers list.
