NJ Towns Can Move School Elections to November

Gov. Chris Christie has signed a law that allows school elections to be moved from April to November.

The switch is optional in each community. But it comes with an incentive for school boards to make the switch away from April polling, when turnout is usually low.

In communities that switch, school budget proposals will not need voter approval unless they increase by more than 2 percent.

Voters will continue to get that direct say in communities that leave school elections in April.

Christie signed the law on Tuesday despite expressing misgivings last week that the election date switch would not be mandatory.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)