But one Los Gatos ballot measure was decided before the constituents ever looked at a ballot statement. In fact, it wouldn't have even been on a ballot if they had not requested the outcome.

A clerical error in 1982 included two Blossom Hill Road homes in the Los Gatos elementary and high school districts when they were supposed to remain in the Union School District and Campbell Union High School District. The boundary line was being redrawn to include other homes near Blossom Hill and Lu Ray Drive, and the error went unnoticed until 2002. That's when the residents of the two homes received a notice from the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office that they would be moving back.

By that time, Michael Armenta and Emil Jandourek co-owned and lived in one of the homes, and Michael Tai owned and lived in the other. But during the preceding years, any children living in the homes went to Los Gatos schools, as did any property taxes paid.

The three homeowners were surprised to learn of the change and approached the Santa Clara County Office of Education about what needed to be done to remain in the Los Gatos districts. Though none of the men have children, Armenta and Jandourek rent an apartment in their basement to a woman with a school-aged child.

Additionally, both homes were bought under the assumption that they were in the Los Gatos districts, and thus their property values are estimated to be higher than they would be if they were in the Campbell and Union districts.

"I actually ran a study to figure out what it really means on a monetary level," Armenta said. "It can be up to 20 percent more in the Los Gatos school districts versus the same house across the street in the other districts."

While Los Gatos elementary and high school district officials approved of the request, Campbell and Union officials wanted the homes in their districts.

"They hadn't received property tax for 20 years," Jandourek said. "Now that they got us back, it's like a windfall."

Since not all parties agreed, a vote was required.

"The education code states that if the affected school districts don't all consent to the transfer, then there must be an election," said Suzanne Carrig, senior research analyst for the Office of Education.

Thus Measure D was drafted and placed on the ballot—even though its outcome was already known—at an estimated cost of more than $5,000 to the county. That cost will likely be passed along to the Office of Education, Carrig said.

Being one-third of a voting population was a first for all of the participants. Armenta said he got phone calls from friends and relatives who were surprised to hear about the measure.

"That was actually kind of weird," he said. "People said, 'You're the only person I know who's had his own personal measure.' It's kind of an oddity."

The measure passed by a vote of three.