Elections

Eligibility and Qualifications
Election Procedures
Campaigning and Political Advocacy
Post-Election Resources

Eligibility and Qualifications

TASB Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions about Running for School Board (pdf)
• Dual Office Holding Issues for School Board Trustees (pdf)
• Surprising Answers to the Question, "Who Can Run for School Board?" (pdf)

Election Procedures

TASB Resources

• TASB Legal Services' Resources:
  • Deadlines for May 6, 2023 School District Trustee Elections (pdf)
  • Notice of Candidate Filing Period for May 6, 2023 Election (pdf)
  • Additional Website Posting Requirements for Elections (pdf)
• TASB Board Development Services offers a candidate's guide and related resources.
• TASB Board Development Services offers a free online course for school board candidates.
• For information on filling board vacancies, see eSource at Governance – Board Member Responsibilities – Board Vacancies.
• For information on schools as polling places, see eSource at Business – Safety and Emergency Management.
• For information on student participation in elections, see eSource at Instruction – Curriculum and Instruction – Curriculum.
• For information on voter-approval tax rate elections, see eSource at Business – Finance, Taxation, and Revenue –Taxation and Voter-Approval Tax Rate Elections.
• For information on bond issuances, see eSource at Business – Finance, Taxation, and Revenue – Bonds, Other Revenue, and Investments.

Other Resources

• The Texas Secretary of State Elections Division School District Elections website provides a wealth of information, including election procedures, election calendars, joint election requirements, voter accessibility requirements, and Elections Division advisories and memos.
• The Texas Ethics Commission Information for Candidates and Officeholders website provides information for board members and candidates about the campaign finance laws and campaigning as well as required forms.
• The Texas Ethics Commission Local Filers and Filing Authorities website provides information for district elections administrators and candidates, such as the Local Candidate/Officeholder Campaign Finance Guide, the Guide to a Local Filing Authority's Duties under the Campaign Finance Laws, forms, and filing schedules.

Campaigning and Political Advocacy

TASB Resources

• Campaign Speech During Elections (pdf)
• Frequently Asked Questions about Legislative Advocacy (pdf)

Other Resources

The Texas Ethics Commission provides many resources related to campaigning and electioneering, including:

• Political Advertising website provides basic political advertising guidelines, outdoor advertising guidelines, and examples of phrases that constitute political advertising.
• A Short Guide To the Prohibition Against Using School District Resources for Political Advertising in Connection with an Election provides guidance to districts seeking to avoid engaging in political advertising.
• Advisory Opinions, Statutes, and Rules, websites provides links to commission rules and a searchable database of advisory opinions and other legal and regulatory guidance.
• Enforcement and Sworn Complaints website details the process for commission review of alleged ethics violations and provides a database of sworn complaint orders issued since 1992.

Post-Election Resources

TASB Resources

• TASB Legal Services' FAQs:
  • New Trustee Checklist (pdf)
  • After the School Board Election (pdf)
  • Officer’s Statement and Oath of Office (pdf)
• TASB Board Development Services offers helpful guidance on what to do after an election, including electing board officers, bringing new members on board, and training.