Will You Vote in New Jersey School Board Elections?

New Jersey's school board elections are approaching next week, but they're often ignored by voters.  Only 73 districts across the state are holding them on April 17 after a new state law allowed school officials to move them to November's major election day.

Since the law was adopted in January, 468 districts have changed the dates according to the State Education Department.  About 50 districts don't hold elections because they're either under state control or have appointed school boards.

As long as the local school property taxes don't go up by more than two percent, districts switching to November don't have to put their budgets to a public vote and risk rejection.   Districts that make the change also have the full cost of the elections paid for by the county election boards.