
On Tuesday, November 3, voters all across the country will head to the polls for Election Day. Aside from deciding who will be the next President of the United States, voters will be facing many other choices at the ballot box. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for reelection, as well as 35 U.S. Senate seats. The states with Senate races include: AK, AL, AR, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, and WY. To fill vacancies, Georgia will have both Senate seats on the ballot. Additionally, there will be gubernatorial races in 11 states, while most states will hold elections for their state legislatures, and many will also have local elections. These down ballot races, and the control of state legislatures, are important this year since redistricting will take place after the 2020 Census and this will set the electoral geography for the next decade.
In addition to voting for individual candidates, many states will have various ballot measures for voters to consider. The list of ballot measures outlined below, along with their summaries, are largely drawn from a list maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures. They are not meant to be exhaustive, and only discuss relevant education-related issues.
- Arizona: Increases the tax on incomes exceeding $250,000 for teacher salaries and schools
- California: Repeals Proposition 209 (1996), which prohibited the state from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting
- California: Provides for increased and stable revenues for schools, cities, counties, and local agencies by requiring that all commercial and industrial real properties are assessed at their full market value
- Colorado: Increases taxes on tobacco, creates a new tax on nicotine products such as e-cigarettes; dedicates funds to education and health programs
- Nevada: Removes the Constitutional status of the Board of Regents
- New Mexico: Issues $156.3 million in bonds for public higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools
- North Dakota: Increases the number of individuals who serve on the state board of higher education from eight to fifteen, increases the term of board membership from four years to six years, requires the board to meet at least annually with the heads of each institution under the board's control, and prohibits state legislators, elected state officials, and full-time state employees from serving on the board
- Washington: Repeals Senate Bill 5395 (2020), which requires public schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education for all students and requires students to be excused if requested by their parents
The 2020 elections are important and could flip control of one or both chambers of Congress and the White House. State and local elections are also critical, as governors, state legislatures and municipalities have the primary responsibility for education and are often tasked with implementing federal legislation. State and local officeholders set education funding levels and pass significant education- and workforce-related legislation. Lastly, as demonstrated above, state ballot measures can have significant impacts on education and CTE programs.
ACTE will continue to monitor the 2020 elections as part of our coverage on the CTE Policy Watch Blog. For more nonpartisan information on elections in your state and how to register to vote, visit Nonprofit VOTE.
Note: ACTE is a nonpartisan organization that does not—and will not—support or oppose any candidate for public office.