New Jersey School Board Elections are Around the Corner

Most New Jersey school districts will be holding their annual school board elections on Wednesday, April 27th. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission reports in White Paper #21 that overall spending on school board elections has doubled during the past decade to $9.6 million. Without regard to pay-to-play restrictions, an individual or corporation may contribute up to $2,600 per election to a candidate running for school board in New Jersey.  Vendors are required to disclose contributions greater than $300 per election to a school board candidate on certain pay-to-play disclosure forms.  Although contributions to school board candidates are generally beyond the scope of New Jersey's statewide pay-to-play prohibition laws, school boards are authorized to adopt local pay-to-play ordinances.  Thus, before writing a check (in any amount) to a school board candidate, vendors should determine whether a local ordinance is in effect.