Election Day: See how voters decided on school bonds & overrides

Updated at 11:25 a.m. Nov. 4, 2021: See updated preliminary results in Arizona school bond, override and district additional assistance elections in this week’s predominantly mail-in elections.
And with that counting is complete except for a handful of EVs that need curing.
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 5, 2021
No questions flipped since election night.@GilbertYourTown got close to flipping to "No" on the Infrastructure bond, moving from a gap of 1,032 to 192 https://t.co/4sTeBZhewZ
Election results remain unofficial until the three-day cure period for questionable signatures and each county canvasses the votes in the next several days.
Budget increase question for fountain hills unified is going in the wrong direction. Is there are only about 700 ballots left to count there. It’s done.
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 4, 2021
No questions left that appear close enough to flip. https://t.co/KIxFKxo3yT
There were 34 school issues on the ballot in Arizona statewide, including 20 override elections, seven bond elections, four district additional assistance elections, two general M&O budget questions, and one election to determine if Gila Bend Unified School District will join West-MEC.
Maricopa County has by far the most school election issues on the ballot.
Click here for Maricopa County Elections Results
Voters approved continuing school district maintenance and operations budget overrides in Arlington Elementary School District, Chandler Unified School District, Fountain Hills Unified School District, Isaac Elementary School District, Kyrene Elementary School District, Phoenix Elementary School District, Phoenix Union High School District and Roosevelt Elementary School District, but voters voted no on continuing budget overrides in Agua Fria Union High School District, Buckeye Elementary School District, Buckeye Union High School District, Liberty Elementary School District, and Litchfield Elementary School District.
Voters approved bonds in Littleton Elementary School District, Pendergast Elementary School District, and Tolleson Union High School District, but voters voted no on bonds in Cave Creek Unified School District, Higley Unified School District, and Queen Creek Unified School District.
Voters approved district additional assistance or budget increases in Phoenix Union High School District, Riverside Elementary School District, and Roosevelt Elementary School District, but voters voted no on district additional assistance or a budget increase in Fountain Hills Unified School District.
Voters approved Gila Bend Unified School District and Littleton Elementary School District joining West-MEC.
In Cochise County, voters approved the continuance of Willcox Unified School District 10% maintenance and operations budget override.
Click here for Cochise County Elections Results
In Apache County, voters approved Round Valley Unified School District‘s extension of its current budget override and Window Rock Unified School District‘s 10% budget increase and bond.
Click here for Apache County Elections Results
In Greenlee County, Duncan Unified School District is seeking a 10% budget override election.
Click here for Greenlee County Elections Results
Coconino County voters approved Williams Unified School District’s budget override continuation.
Click here for Coconino County Elections Results
In Pinal County, voters voted no on continuing Maricopa Unified School District‘s budget override and Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District‘s proposed budget increase.
Click here for Pinal County Elections Results
In Mohave County, voters voted against Mohave Valley Elementary School District’s continuation of the budget override.
Click here for Mohave County Elections Results
In Pima County, voters approved Vail Unified School District‘s budget override.
Click here for Pima County Elections Results
In Yavapai County, voters approved continuing Mingus Union High School District and Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary School Districts‘ budget overrides.
Click here for Yavapai County Elections Results
Updated at 8:07 p.m. Nov. 2, 2021: See preliminary results in Arizona school bond, override and district additional assistance elections in today’s predominantly mail-in elections.
Sorry @maricopacounty you’re too slow tonight. 😁
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 3, 2021
Here’s the text file that they posted at 8pm. pic.twitter.com/DwCS3yE2ey
These unofficial results this evening include all ballots received by the county recorders’ offices prior to Election Day.
You heard it here. Again, none of these results are final. Ballots cast today have yet to be counted. Close races could still turn. https://t.co/TSWTtmKyxB
— Steve Irvin (@Steve_Irvin) November 3, 2021
Ballots received at ballot drop off locations on Election Day will be processed, signature verified and counted if eligible and further elections results will be released over the next several days.
Turnout in @maricopacounty (not all areas had elections)
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 3, 2021
eligible: 1,410,174
voted: 268,083
turnout: 19.01%
any ballots voted today will be processed later this week.
There are 34 school issues on the ballot in Arizona statewide, including 20 override elections, seven bond elections, four district additional assistance elections, two general M&O budget questions, and one election to determine if Gila Bend Unified School District will join West-MEC.
Unofficial election results: West Valley residents narrowly vote ‘no’ on budget overrides for @LitchfieldESD and @AFUHSD216. There are ballots still to be counted but at this rate, both districts will lose nearly $10 million annually in voter-approved funding. @AzNewsmedia
— Madeline Ackley (@Mkayackley) November 3, 2021
Most of the school elections are in Maricopa County.
A great night for #LD18 and Kyrene! A special thank you to voters for approving the Kyrene budget override by over a 20-point margin! One proud Kyrene kid here tonight! 😊 pic.twitter.com/akuTkBTKND
— Sen. Sean Bowie (@seanbowie) November 3, 2021
Click here for Maricopa County Elections Results
Alright…here we go, what’s passing so far:
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 3, 2021
Chandler Unified
Fountain Hills Unified
Isaac
Kyrene
Littleton
Pendergrast
Phoenix
Riverside
Roosevelt
Tooleson
correcting this. Surprise question IS passing
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 3, 2021
Y: 16,198
N: 4,216
slip of the eye. my bad. https://t.co/cZ6o7yjXxm
I would only really classify Fountain Hills questions as “close” based on the size of the electorate and what “Yes” is either winning or losing by.
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 3, 2021
Question 1: Yes +257
Question 2: Yes -175
The spread for everything else is too large when accounting for the electorate size
In Cochise County, voters are approving the continuance of Willcox Unified School District 10% maintenance and operations budget override.
Click here for Cochise County Elections Results
Results for Apache and Greenlee counties were unavailable this evening.
Coconino County voters are approving Williams Unified School District’s budget override continuation.
Click here for Coconino County Elections Results
In Pinal County, voters are voting against continuing Maricopa Unified School District‘s budget override and Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District‘s proposed budget increase.
Click here for Pinal County Elections Results
In Mohave County, voters voted against Mohave Valley Elementary School District’s continuation of the budget override.
Click here for Mohave Valley Elections Results
In Pima County, voters are approving Vail Unified School District‘s budget override.
Click here for Pima County Elections Results
In Yavapai County, voters are approving continuing Mingus Union High School District and Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary School Districts‘ budget overrides.
Click here for Yavapai County Elections Results
9 a.m. Nov. 2, 2021: Arizona voters will decide the outcome of many school bond, override and district additional assistance elections today in predominantly mail-in elections.
Ten counties are holding elections today! For more information, visit the Clean Elections website: https://t.co/pyjvisbb5c#TrustedInfo pic.twitter.com/4E9QWc8vLo
— Secretary Katie Hobbs (@SecretaryHobbs) November 2, 2021
Preliminary results will start being released at 8 p.m., and will be updated here live.
For the ultra hardcore election junkies put there that have a bond and budget override questions, there is only one Maricopa incoming tonight right after 8pm. It will be all ballots not dropped off today.
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 2, 2021
If you’re looking for where you can drop off your mail-in ballot, check out your county recorder’s website for a list of locations and get your ballot there before the 7 p.m. deadline.
It’s Election Day! Make sure you drop off your ballot or vote at any of our in-person locations before 7 p.m. today. Find one near your at https://t.co/8YEmXbWyRL. #BeBallotReady pic.twitter.com/T85wSxLl8T
— Maricopa County Elections Department (@MaricopaVote) November 2, 2021
There are 34 school issues on the ballot in Arizona statewide, including 20 override elections, seven bond elections, four district additional assistance elections, two general M&O budget questions, and one election to determine if Gila Bend Unified School District will join West-MEC.
Through these school bond, override and district additional assistance elections, school districts ask voters in their communities to generate funding through local property taxes that schools can use for a set time and purpose.
Bonds provide a certain amount of money for set projects.
Overrides allow a school district to increase their maintenance and operations budget up to 15 percent.
Capital/district additional assistance overrides let a school district raise funds up to 10 percent of their revenue control limit.
Infographic by Angelica Miranda/AZEdNews
For a larger version of the infographic, please click here and then click on the image.
In Arizona, local revenue makes up a significantly larger percent than state revenue of school districts overall funding and revenue sources.
That is in stark contrast to the the rest of the nation where state funding is more than local funding, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Public Education Finances 2017 released in May 2019.
Infographic by Lisa Irish/AZEdNews
Click here for a larger version of the infographic
Some schools have historically been able to pass bonds and overrides to provide more funding for student programs, teacher salaries and more, while others have not been able to generate that additional funding from their community and it puts them on uneven footing with neighboring school districts.
A fully funded public education is guaranteed to Arizonans via our sacred Constitution.
— AZEdUnited (@AZEdUnited) November 2, 2021
If today should have taught them anything, it is that nobody is above the law and that they must follow our Constitution. ⚖️ https://t.co/UHoF0PtWCS
Voting began on Wednesday Oct. 6, 2021 and continues until 7 p.m. today. Elections results will start being released at 8 p.m. and results will be updated here then.
School elections by county
In Apache County, Round Valley Unified School District is seeking an extension of its current budget override to increase staffing, reduce class sizes and continue and grow music, vocational, athletic, and extracurricular activities. Window Rock Unified School District is seeking a 10% budget override for the 2022-2023 school year and the next six years.
Wilcox Unified School District in Cochise County seeks to continue a 10% maintenance and operations budget override that would maintain class sizes and classroom and support services, including school sties, counseling, full-day kindergarten, library, athletics, physical education, fine arts, extra-curricular activities and remedial, elective and advanced classes.
Voters in Williams Unified School District in Coconino County are being asked to renew a 10% budget override that helps support teacher salaries and student programs and has been approved by voters since 1999, The Williams-Grand Canyon News reports.
In Greenlee County, Duncan Unified School District is seeking a 10% budget override election.
Maricopa County has by far the most school election issues on the ballot. Agua Fria Union High School District, Arlington Elementary School District, Buckeye Elementary School District, Buckeye Union High School District, Chandler Unified School District, Fountain Hills Unified School District, Isaac Elementary School District, Kyrene Elementary School District, Liberty Elementary School District, Litchfield Elementary School District, Phoenix Elementary School District, Phoenix Union High School District and Roosevelt Elementary School District are seeking to continue their maintenance and operations budget overrides.
Cave Creek Unified School District, Higley Unified School District, Littleton Elementary School District, Pendergast Elementary School District, Queen Creek Unified School District and Tolleson Union High School District are asking voters to approve bonds.
Fountain Hills Unified School District, Phoenix Union High School District, Riverside Elementary School District and Roosevelt Elementary School District are asking voters to approve district additional assistance.
Gila Bend Unified School District and Littleton Elementary School District are asking voters whether to join West-MEC.
Voters in Maricopa Unified School District in Pinal County are being asked to approve the continuation of the current 10% maintenance and operations budget override that voters approved in 2016, In Maricopa.com reports. Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District is seeking to renew its current 10% general maintenance and operation budget override.
In Mohave County, Mohave Valley Elementary School District is seeking an extension of its 15% maintenance and operations override.
Vail Unified School District in Pima County is seeking a budget override.
In Yavapai County, Mingus Union High School District and Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary School District are seeking to renew their 10% budget overrides.