Voters can participate in upcoming school elections even if they live outside city limits

Historically, the city and school elections in Jasper County have considerably lower turnouts than state or federal elections, but the folks at the county auditor’s office hope their educational presentations with high schoolers and some of the older populations will result in a positive change in the coming years.

County Auditor Jenna Jennings agreed some of the lower turnout is attributed to voters not knowing they can actually participate in these local elections, which happen every two years. For instance, some rural voters may dismiss an election because they live outside city limits. However, city limits are not school limits.

School district boundaries extend far beyond that of their respective city’s limits; Newton alone extends into portions of twelve townships. Every single household in Jasper County is part of a school district, and those votes are extremely important in determining who gets to serve on those school boards.

In 2024, the Jasper County Auditor’s Office reported a 75 percent voter turnout. It was a high-stakes presidential election that drew more than 20,000 people to the polls or submit absentee ballots in Jasper County. Jennings and her staff would probably fall out of their seats if a local election garnered that much attention.

So far, Jennings said more than 100 people have participated in early voting for the 2025 election. If that is any indication, the local turnout will be low again.

In 2023, the last city and school election, the turnout was roughly 22 percent. It is relatively low, but it is a common figure for local elections. Jennings said 600 people submitted absentee ballots that year, and 5,333 people showed up on Election Day. So a little less than 6,000 people voted in the last local election.

“I think people don’t realize they can vote,” Jennings said. “We’ve heard from a number of people already that said, ‘I can’t vote in this election because I live in the county.’ Well, even though you live in the county, you still have a say in your school boards. I think that’s a perception the older generation has.”

Over the past month or so, the county auditor’s office has visited two different school districts — Baxter and Lynnville-Sully — and spoke with students in government classes about voting, elections and how to register to vote. Jennings and her staff also plan to visit congregate meals for a similar presentation.

Jennings said the auditor’s office tries to find as many opportunities to be transparent about elections, inform the public about the process and stress the importance of local elections and engaging in local government. City councils and school boards have a much more direct impact on voters and their lives.

“Those are the people making those decisions that are also affecting your taxes,” Jennings said. “So that’s how you have a say in some of this.”