More Than 50% Of Voters Cast Ballots In Chicago’s First School Board Election
Exceptional Turnout in City’s Inaugural Election
According to final figures released by the Chicago Board of Elections, more than half of Chicago’s registered voters cast ballots in the city’s first school board races during the Nov. 5 general election. This exceptional turnout bucked voter trends for school board elections across the country, with 53 percent of the city’s registered voters showing up and picking candidates for school board races.
High Turnout in School Board Races
Out of a total 1,498,873 registered voters, 801,878 cast ballots for the city’s 10 school board districts. This means that 78 percent of all Chicagoans who voted on Nov. 5 chose a candidate in the school board races. The city’s inaugural election ushered in 10 new board members who will be sworn in Jan. 15, 2025. Mayor Brandon Johnson will choose another 11, including a school board president, by Dec. 16 to create a 21-person board.
Campaign Contributions and Voter Interest
The school board races drew almost $7 million in campaign contributions, with at least $1.5 million from the Chicago Teachers Union and its allies, and almost double that from pro-school-choice PACs, according to a Chalkbeat analysis in late October. The high-profile election and the fact that it was the first of its kind in Chicago likely contributed to the exceptional turnout.
Comparison to National Trends
According to one estimate from the National School Boards Association, just 5-10 percent of registered voters vote in school board races. Chicago’s turnout of 53 percent is significantly higher than this national average. A WBEZ analysis found that more Chicago voters cast ballots in one of the 10 school board races than in any one of most of the judicial seats, and more ballots were cast in more competitive races.
Expert Analysis
Jeffery Henig, professor emeritus of politics and education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, who has studied mayoral control of school boards, said that the 78 percent figure is just as impressive and is a better measure of turnout. He noted that it’s “well-established” that voter turnout in school board races is generally low, making Chicago’s turnout “pretty impressive.”
Conclusion
Chicago’s exceptional turnout in its first school board election is a sign of greater interest and engagement in the city’s education system. While it’s reasonable to expect voter turnout to drop in the city’s next school board election in 2026, the fact that the election was the first of its kind in Chicago likely contributed to the high turnout.
FAQs
Q: What was the turnout in Chicago’s first school board election?
A: More than 50% of Chicago’s registered voters cast ballots in the city’s first school board races.
Q: How many people voted in the school board races?
A: 801,878 people cast ballots for the city’s 10 school board districts.
Q: What was the total number of registered voters in Chicago?
A: 1,498,873 registered voters.
Q: How many new board members were elected in the school board races?
A: 10 new board members were elected and will be sworn in Jan. 15, 2025.
