Palo Alto School Board Ballot Strategy Encouraged
The teachers' union is advising voters to select only one candidate for the two available school board seats.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Do you believe it is acceptable for interest groups to encourage voters to use bullet voting?
The Palo Alto teachers' union is encouraging voters to use a "bullet voting" strategy in the upcoming school board race. This tactic involves selecting only one candidate for the two open board seats, specifically endorsing classroom aide Linda Henigin.
Why it matters
The union hopes that by limiting votes to a single candidate, supporters can prevent competitors from gaining enough votes to surpass their preferred choice. This strategy is intended to consolidate support for Henigin against opponents Avery Wang and John Craig.
There are two open seats on the Palo Alto school board, but the union advises casting a vote solely for Linda Henigin and leaving the second spot on the ballot blank. The union issued this voting strategy recommendation via a newsletter sent on Friday, October 9, 2026.
The players
Linda Henigin
A classroom aide and candidate for the Palo Alto school board.
Ken Dauber
A local figure who previously utilized the bullet voting strategy in past board elections.
Avery Wang
A candidate competing for one of the two open seats on the school board.
John Craig
A candidate competing for one of the two open seats on the school board.
The details
Bullet voting works by intentionally under-voting when a ballot allows for multiple selections. By casting a vote for only one candidate, a voter ensures that no additional support is accidentally given to competing candidates. The strategy aims to give the endorsed candidate a greater statistical advantage in a crowded field of contenders.
Timeline
2012: Ken Dauber unsuccessfully used the bullet voting strategy in his board run.
2014: Ken Dauber won a school board election.
Friday, October 9, 2026: The union president distributed the voting strategy newsletter.
The Home Front
This strategy revisits a tactic previously employed during the 2012 Palo Alto school board election. It highlights the recurring tension in local administrative races where groups attempt to optimize electoral outcomes through strategic ballot management.
Voters deciding how to cast their ballots should review the full list of candidates to understand how their selections impact the local school board composition. Consider how your preferences for the two open seats align with various endorsements before heading to the polls.
The takeaway
Bullet voting is a tactical choice that sacrifices one of your two available votes to consolidate support for a single candidate. If you choose to follow this strategy, ensure you are comfortable with not supporting a second candidate for the remaining open school board position.
Further reading
For more local oversight, visit the Palo Alto Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Palo Alto Daily Post.
Live Poll
Do you believe it is acceptable for interest groups to encourage voters to use bullet voting?
