Jan. 14 is deadline for school-levy voter registration

Battle Ground School District residents who are not registered voters and wish to vote in the Feb. 12 replacement-levy election have until Monday, Jan. 14, to register online or by mail. (Deadlne for in-person registration at county elections office is Feb. 4.) Click “read more” for registration information and notifying county elections office of any name or address changes.

The levy is for educational programs, maintenance and operations and would not take effect until January 2014. The present levy, approved by voters in 2010, expires at the end of 2013.

Anyone who voted in the November 2012 election or a previous election and has not changed his or her address or name is already registered and should receive a ballot in the mail after Jan. 23. Most will be delivered to district residents by Monday, Jan. 28.

Here are some questions and answers:

Q: I haven’t voted in recent elections. How can I make sure I am still registered?

A:  Two ways: (1) On the county website clarkvotes.org, under the large-type words “My Vote” at right, click on “My voting information” or (2) call the county elections office at (360) 397-2345.

Q: If I have changed my name or address, how do I submit the new information?

A: Go to clarkvotes.org and look under “MyVote” at right.

Q. If I am not registered and want to vote in the Feb. 12 replacement levy, how do I register?

A: Any of three ways: (1) Pick up a voter registration form at any Battle Ground district school, a public library or city hall, fill it out and mail it in or (2) deliver it in person to the county elections office, 1408 Franklin St., Vancouver or (3) register online at clarkvotes.org. Under the large-type words “MyVote,” click on “Register to vote.”

Q. What is the deadline for registering?

A: The online-registration deadline is 11:59 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14.  Mailed registration forms must be postmarked by Jan. 14.

Q: What if I miss the Jan. 14 deadline?

A: One may register in person in the elections office, 1408 Franklin St., Vancouver, as late as 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4. (After Jan. 14 anyone registering at the elections office must talk with an elections-office worker and not simply drop off a completed form.)

Q: What if I have some other question about the process or my status?

A: Call the elections office at (360) 397-2345.

Q: What’s this school levy all about, anyway?

A: State and federal support for public schools does not cover the cost of public education. Local voters are asked to fill the gap. The Battle Ground district levy approved by voters in 2010 expires next December, in the middle of the 2013-14 school year. A replacement levy would take effect in January 2014 and run for four years.

Q: How much is being asked in the replacement levy?

A: The first year of the levy, 2014, would be $24,420,000. It subsequent years it would raise: $25,350,000 in 2015; $26,300,000 in 2016 and $27,250,000 in 2017.

Q: How do Battle Ground Public Schools compare to other districts in terms of expenditures?


A: When all sources of income are considered (state and federal support, student fees and grants), the average per-pupil expenditure for all of Washington state was $9,696 in 2010-11 (the most recent year for which figures are available). In the Vancouver School District, the per-pupil expenditure was $9,463 and in Evergreen it was $9,040. In Battle Ground Public Schools, the per-pupil expenditure was $8,827.

Source: Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) at www.k12.wa.us and click “Report Card” on the right.