School board ballot question creates controversy, raises concern

November 08, 2011|By Kelli Stopczynski (kstopczynski@wsbt.com)

MISHAWAKA — A ballot snafu is leading to lots of questions.

A question was missing from some ballots in Mishawaka and voters who live in St. Joseph County but are in the Mishawaka school district weren’t allowed to vote on a measure to have a partially elected school board.

The controversy stems from a question mandated by the state legislature. It asked voters if three School City of Mishawaka board members should be elected by voters and the other two appointed by the mayor and city council.

“We went to try and vote on the school board issue and our voting station was closed,” said Michael Walker, who lives outside Mishawaka city limits in St. Joseph County but inside School City limits.

But since Tuesday’s election was a municipal election, only people who live in the city limits were allowed to vote.

“I just feel like the election is not even fair or valid because my voice wasn't even considered…” said Michael’s wife, Lisa.

Other voters who do live inside city limits were also affected. The question was left off about 25 ballots in precinct 4-8.

“When you look at it there are a number of entities that are frankly embarrassed over this whole situation and it's unfortunate that we are where we are,” said Republican Murray Winn, St. Joseph County Election Board member.

But it’s not clear who is responsible for the errors or how many voters are affected.

Murray told WSBT there are no plans for the election board to act on the problems and change anything, but it is possible for a voter to file a lawsuit and let a judge decide what happens next.

The measure passed by a large margin.

School City Board President Marci Sears told WSBT Radio she does not anticipate resistance to the results of the referendum, but going forward she foresees conversations about making the board entirely elected. The school board has the authority to do that, but there's no indication of how soon they'll make that decision.

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