Public education comprises a significant proportion of the city’s total budget. For example, of the city’s $748 million FY 2019 general fund budget, the schools got $224 million — nearly a third. Of the city’s $2.2 billion 10-year Capital Improvement Program, the schools got $475 million — over a fifth.

For this reason, the School Board election on Nov. 6 is important for all residents and taxpayers, regardless of whether they have children in the public school system.

The School Board, consisting of nine members, is essentially a second local legislature, governing everything having to do with public education in the city. Except, unlike City Council, it doesn’t exercise its own power of the purse. Rather, it receives an annual funding allocation from council, which is the only body between the two with taxing and bonding authority.

Whether or not School Board candidates have clear partisan preferences, state law requires that they run as independents.

Unlike City Council members, whom voters elect at large, School Board members are elected from three separate districts. District A covers roughly the city’s eastern third, District B the middle third, and District C the western third. A voter can choose up to three School Board candidates, but only among those running in the district where the voter resides.

For those who qualify, early absentee voting has already begun. Vote in-person absentee at the Voter Registration Office (132 North Royal St.) or Beatley Library (5005 Duke St.). The deadline for in-person absentee voting is 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3. Apply for an absentee ballot by mail by visiting vote.elections.virginia.gov, entering your identification information and following the subsequent prompts. The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Vote in person at your appointed polling place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. However, to avoid potential parking challenges and long waits, the registrar recommends voting between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. if possible.

For more information, including a map of polling places, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Elections or call Alexandria’s Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 703-746-4050.