A study tested the proposition that three factors influencing voter behavior in nonpartisan school budget elections are (1) fiscal decisions made by boards of education, (2) fiscal commitments that are uncontrollable by boards of education, and (3) expenditures made by other governmental units. The study concluded that (1) about one-half of the variance in voter participation and dissent is not explained by these factors, (2) the most consistent stimuli of participation and dissent are uncontrollable by boards of education in the budget election year, (3) teacher salary increases do not affect participation and dissent, (4) nonschool fiscal and economic factors are not important predictors of voter behavior in school budget elections, (5) the influence of fiscal and economic factors on electoral behavior differs according to the school district's location, and (6) participation and dissent in school budget elections are highly related. Three factors that could result in negative voting are (1) community conflict over a nonfiscal educational issue, (2) organized opposition to the school board, and (3) contests for school board seats. (Author/LLR)