Bill to Change Rochester School Board Elections Signed into Law by Gov. Walz

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The election for the Rochester Public School District Board will look different this Fall. 

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Gov. Tim Walz has signed a bill that changes the format for RPS Board races. 

The Minnesota House and Senate both approved the legislation earlier this month. The bill was lumped into an Omnibus elections bill signed into law by the governor on April 29. 

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Gov. Tim Walz Signs Bill That Ends Alley System for Rochester School Board Elections Into Law

The legislation scraps the so-called “alley system,” which allows anyone running for a school board seat to challenge only one candidate. 

Rochester School Board seats will now be awarded to the top vote-getters with all candidates competing for the seats with each other. The change will be in place for this Fall’s election.  

The House passed the bill on a 124-9 and the Senate approved the measure by a 41-26 margin. 

The effort to change the format for RPS Board elections began in March, when board members unanimously approved a resolution, asking state lawmakers to terminate a 1974 law that put the alley system for school district elections in place. 

New Changes in Place for This Year's Rochester School Board Election

Awarding seats to the top vote-getters isn’t the only change to this year’s race for school board seats and the races that will follow. 

In February, the board voted 6-1 to no longer hold Primary Elections.