Elections: Nonpartisan offices.
If enacted, this amendment would fundamentally alter the local electoral landscape in California by allowing for increased political affiliation in elections for positions such as school board members and county supervisors. This change is expected to enable candidates to run with party endorsements and to have their party affiliations indicated on the ballot, potentially leading to a more politically charged environment in local governance. Advocates suggest that this may increase voter turnout and engagement as parties mobilize their bases around local elections.
Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 11 (SCA11), introduced by Senator Lara on February 17, 2017, proposes an amendment to the California Constitution regarding the nature of elections for certain local offices. The bill seeks to change the requirement that all judicial, school, county, and city offices be nonpartisan. Currently, the Constitution prohibits political parties from nominating candidates for nonpartisan offices and does not allow candidates' party preferences to be displayed on the ballot for these offices. SCA11 aims to allow school, county, and city offices to be considered partisan, with the exception of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
However, the proposal has stirred debate among legislators and advocacy groups. Supporters argue that allowing partisan elections will provide voters with clearer choices and enable parties to implement their platforms at local levels. Critics, on the other hand, warn that introducing partisanship into local races could lead to increased polarization and diminish the focus on local issues in favor of broader political agendas. The bill, therefore, raises significant questions about the balance between local governance effectiveness and the risk of partisan influence in community decisions.