Moving the Needle on Voter Turnout

It is a truth universally acknowledged that voter turnout in school board races is depressingly low—especially when the school board races aren’t paired with top-of-the-ticket races such as presidential or gubernatorial races. Many of us consistently say “mañana” through the early voting period and then find plenty of reasons to skip going to the polls on Election Day (especially when it’s a busy Saturday in May).

But in a world of Districts of Innovation (DOI) and “Local School Library Advisory Councils,” skipping school board races is increasingly perilous for parents, educators, and all community members. The decisions that affect your planning time, which books you can share with students, and more are in the hands of your elected school board.

The good news is that by working together, ATPE members can move the needle when it comes to voter turnout. You don’t need to look any further than Humble ATPE for a solid example. The local unit has sponsored a school board candidate forum for the past 30 years.

In an analysis of data* from the May 3, 2025, local elections, contested races for the Humble ISD Board of Trustees had an average voter turnout rate of 7.1% compared with 5.8% in two other Houston area school districts (Clear Creek and Pasadena ISDs). Overall voter turnout for the Harris County joint election was 5.44%.

A difference of 1.3% might not sound like much, but when the margins are slim, it can be. Consider this: The race for Position 2 in Humble ISD was decided by 40 votes.

Lots of factors have an impact on voter turnout, and there is always danger in causality. But it’s worth noting that Humble ATPE, in partnership with the Humble Area Retired Teachers Association (HARTA), made a concerted effort to improve voter turnout in the May 3, 2025, elections. Local unit leaders chose to invest in get-out-the-vote efforts that included:

• Postcards sent to ATPE members promoting an April 10, 2025, school board candidate forum co-sponsored by Humble ATPE and HARTA;
• Posters for Humble ISD campuses advertising the candidate forum;
• Push cards to hand out at school board meetings;
• Banners to hang at the 12 district campuses in areas with traditionally lower voter turnout; and
• Additional postcards with voting dates, polling locations, and a link to the local unit’s candidate survey.

“We tried a lot of things this year,” Humble ATPE President Erika Mitcham says. “I really think the postcards were beneficial. People were getting them and talking about the forum, even if they were not able to attend. ‘Tell me how the forum went.’ ‘What stood out to you?’ It was a good conversation piece.

“We made banners for the schools where we knew there was typically lower voter turnout so parents would see the banners when they went into the schools. We wanted to diversify the election results, and overall, we had more voter turnout this school board election than in the past.”

Time was also a major investment. It’s one thing to pay for banners and posters; it’s another to build relationships with district administration and secure permission to hang them. As longtime Humble ATPE volunteer Gayle Sampley explains, hosting a successful candidate forum starts with the superintendent, who determines whether the district will work with you. With the superintendent’s support, a group like an ATPE local unit will have access to a district facility for the event, district PR support to get the word out, and even access to campuses. It’s critical to be clear in your request that your event will treat all candidates fairly and that your communication will be professional.

“You have to do a good job if you want to be taken seriously,” Sampley says. “And the superintendent can’t show any favoritism.”

Even delivering the banners became a relationship-building opportunity. ATPE members prepared Ziplock baggies filled with zip ties, forum postcards, and a thank-you letter for delivery by HARTA members to the principals whose campuses displayed the forum banners. Humble ATPE leaders also worked hard to promote the candidate forum through community media outlets.

Humble ATPE leaders estimate 275 to 300 community members attended the April 10 candidate forum, with an unknown number watching the livestream or archived recording.

“All the way around, it elevates and raises what people think of ATPE in this community,” Sampley says. “It says this is the kind of organization that does something that is purposeful, real, and meaningful, and that causes a teacher who doesn’t already have a group to join. They see advocacy support going on in their own community that deals with the people who hire them.

“Getting to actually choose who those people are is a big deal. I think every ATPE local unit that has a school district that will allow a candidate forum should find some way to make it happen.”

Mitcham agrees. “We were able to make better connections in our school district and also with our school board members. They know we want to be involved and that we’re watching and listening all of the time.”

If you are interested in getting involved in local advocacy, ATPE’s new Local Advocacy Microcredential, available through the ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP), is a good place to start. This on-demand course explains the importance of building relationships with district administrators and school board members, as well as provides tips for speaking during public comment during board meetings and interacting with local media. Learn more about ATPE-MAP at atpe.org/At-The-Capitol/ATPE-Member-Advocate-Program.

The next school board elections in Texas will take place Nov. 4, with early voting occurring Oct. 20–31. Visit vote411.org to find out what will be on your ballot, and be sure to register to vote by Oct. 6. Learn more at votetexas.gov.

*The author used artificial intelligence to assist in the analysis of voter turnout in May 3, 2025, Houston-area school board elections.