Oakland County, Michigan, May 3, 2006 -- Tuesday's poor voter turnout - just 8.92 percent of Oakland County's registered voters according to unofficial vote totals - is evidence that school election dates must be changed, said Oakland County Clerk/Register Ruth Johnson.

Turnout declined from last year's May elections, which was 14.24 percent, Johnson said.

The Clerk, who visited precincts in nearly a dozen communities during an Election Day tour, said poll workers told her they were bored and frustrated at the waste. Johnson said more than half of the school districts with elections Tuesday had uncontested school board candidate races.

"By noon at one Oak Park precinct, only one voter had cast their ballot and that was an election worker at that polling place," Johnson said. "There is no sense in having stand-alone school elections."

The story was repeated across Oakland County. In one Troy voting precinct with 1,421 voters, just 15 - about 1 percent - cast their ballots.

In Famington Hills, a combined precinct with 3,285 voters saw only 20 people - 0.6 percent - vote.

"Under 2004's consolidated election law, which I supported as a state representative, schools were required to hold their elections in November unless the school board formally opted out," Johnson said. "To our surprise, every district in Oakland County, except the South Lyon Schools, chose the most expensive option - the May Election."

By holding their school elections in November as part of the municipal elections, schools would have had to pay little or nothing for their elections, she said.

Piggybacked elections could save more than $600,000 in Oakland County alone. Statewide, the savings would be about $5 million or more.

"How many books will that buy? How many teachers will that hire?" Johnson said. "It's not responsible for schools to spend money on unnecessary, stand-alone elections."

In addition, it's inconvenient for voters, she said.

"I know of no other government entity that holds elections every year," said Johnson. "Piggybacked elections are a win-win for everybody. The schools can cut their costs without impacting the teachers or children."

Johnson said she will be urging support for legislation by Rep. Chris Ward, (R-Brighton) that would require school districts to hold elections every other year, not annually, reducing some unnecessary elections. (HB 4755) Johnson said she supports the concept, but would like to see the May option eliminated.

Districts like South Lyon that have piggybacked elections have made accommodations to accommodate the new election schedule. In South Lyon, for example, board terms were lengthened to six from four years.

"Around the state, with some slight changes, piggybacked elections are working very well," Johnson said. "Early concerns about the change have simply not been realized."

It is not a difficult process for school districts to change their elections dates. According to state law, districts must  adopt a resolution, hold at least one public hearing on the change before voting on the resolutions.

Once a school opts to make the change, it becomes a permanent election date.