FRANKLIN CO., Ark. -
This year's election at the County Line School District was pretty straightforward: school board member David Morris was running for re-election with no opponent, and there were no changes to the school's millage rate.
But Superintendent Jim Ford says he was surprised to hear on Wednesday that nobody had voted in the election.
"It's a real unusual case, I don't think I've ever heard of it happening before," he said.
According to the Franklin County Election Commission, zero votes were cast through early and absentee voting, and zero votes were cast on Tuesday. Ford says the nature of this year's election may have been a factor.
"There wasn't anything on the ballot to decide and people didn't feel the need to get out and vote," he said.
According to the Secretary of State's office, this situation is more common than you might think. Officials say a handful of Arkansas schools each year record zero or minimal votes in elections where there are no real changes on the ballot.
"I've had two calls already today from, one from Ashley County and one from another county," said Tim Humphries, General Counsel for the Secretary of State's Office.
Another factor may be that in County Line, as in other districts, the school board chose not to open polling places for the election Tuesday. Humphries said in 2005, the State Legislature approved a measure to let districts hold some elections just through early and absentee voting. Ford says that doing so saves his district about $2,000 each election.
As for County Line's election, it's business as usual, according to an email from attorney Kristen Gould with the Arkansas School Boards Association to the school board. David Morris will serve another five years on the board, and the millage rate continues unchanged from its increase three years ago to pay for a new auditorium.
Ford says the message he'll take away from this election is a positive one.
"I believe I'd like to think that it points to people being satisfied and happy, with the way school's going and that we're in good place," he said.
But Superintendent Jim Ford says he was surprised to hear on Wednesday that nobody had voted in the election.
"It's a real unusual case, I don't think I've ever heard of it happening before," he said.
According to the Franklin County Election Commission, zero votes were cast through early and absentee voting, and zero votes were cast on Tuesday. Ford says the nature of this year's election may have been a factor.
"There wasn't anything on the ballot to decide and people didn't feel the need to get out and vote," he said.
According to the Secretary of State's office, this situation is more common than you might think. Officials say a handful of Arkansas schools each year record zero or minimal votes in elections where there are no real changes on the ballot.
"I've had two calls already today from, one from Ashley County and one from another county," said Tim Humphries, General Counsel for the Secretary of State's Office.
Another factor may be that in County Line, as in other districts, the school board chose not to open polling places for the election Tuesday. Humphries said in 2005, the State Legislature approved a measure to let districts hold some elections just through early and absentee voting. Ford says that doing so saves his district about $2,000 each election.
As for County Line's election, it's business as usual, according to an email from attorney Kristen Gould with the Arkansas School Boards Association to the school board. David Morris will serve another five years on the board, and the millage rate continues unchanged from its increase three years ago to pay for a new auditorium.
Ford says the message he'll take away from this election is a positive one.
"I believe I'd like to think that it points to people being satisfied and happy, with the way school's going and that we're in good place," he said.
