HB1531

House Bill 1531 amends Arkansas law to establish a process for school district electors to petition for a ballot measure regarding how their school board members are elected. Specifically, it allows voters to choose between electing board members from single-member zones, at-large, or a combination of both. The bill requires that petitions be signed by at least 10% of the qualified electors in the district and sets specific timelines for circulation and filing. If passed, the county election commission will oversee the ballot placement and, if the measure is approved, establish zone boundaries based on the most recent census data to ensure substantially equal population distribution. The bill also modifies the term length for school board directors to four years. Furthermore, it outlines procedures for the initial transition of terms following a shift to a new method of election.