Attitudes and characteristics of voters and nonvoters in a school district maintenance and operations budget override election.

Abstract

Questionnaires and telephone calls were used to survey registered voters after a school district maintenance and operations budget override election in which 22% of the electorate had voted. Returns from 24% of the nonvoters and 50% of the voters indicated a more supportive sample than was observed in the actual election. Other findings include: (1) Nonvoters who indicated how they would have voted responded similarly across other variables to those actually voting in that direction. (2) The majority of those favoring the override indicated a belief that education is important and is everyone's responsibility. (3) The majority of those opposing the override contended that enough money is available if there were no mismanagement of present funds and resources. (4) Parents who currently have children in District schools voted "yes", but they did not vote in large numbers and their total number is decreasing. (5) Parents whose children attend District schools rated their schools higher than parents in the 22nd Annual Gallup/Kappan Poll. (6) Nonparents in the District rated the schools lower than nonparents in the Gallup/Kappan Poll. (7) Mismanagement was considered the most serious school-related problem and drugs/alcohol the most serious society-related problem. (8) District respondents indicated less concern about drugs and discipline than the respondents in the Gallup/ Kappan Poll, but more concern about poor curriculum/poor standards, mismanagement, and lack of communication. (9) Retired members of the 50 & over group were more likely to vote "yes" than the working 50 & over members. (10) Females voted more than males and voted "yes" by larger margins. (11) District respondents gave similar answers regardless of the method used to collect information.