For countless years the voters of our New Jersey towns and cities have faced two and maybe three different election dates from maybe two or three different entities. 

 

Hanover voters, as an example, go to the polls and vote for their municipal, county, state and federal officials in November, but school board members and the respective budgets as well as fire commissioners and their fire budgets, are voted on other dates.

 

Not only does this bring additional cost, but it is confusing to the voter. It dramatically reduces the voter response. Typically, a local school board election in April can bring out voters in the low hundreds, while a general election brings out thousands. 

 

This small voter turnout represents a fraction of the voters who decide on one of  your municipalities largest budgets and is shamefully far from the voter representation we should have. 

 

Moving the school board elections to the same November date as the general elections will without a doubt bring out the largest voter turn out with an outcome that will reflect the truest voter sentiment.

 

Since nearly half of every one of Hanover's tax dollars goes to support our schools, and rightfully so, shouldn't we all have the best opportunity to come out and vote for those who would represent us here?

 

This is only my opinion, not necessarily that of the Hanover Township Committee.

 

Ron Francioli