Pandemic Rules: Mail-Only School Budgets, Board Votes

NEW YORK — The new coronavirus pandemic means new rules for annual school board elections and district budget votes. The statewide vote is set for June 9.

"School budget votes and board elections will be conducted this year under challenging circumstances, to say the least," said Robert Schneider, executive director of the New York State School Boards Association. "There are many logistical issues involved in conducting school budget votes – from finalizing school budgets themselves to providing notice and absentee ballots to the public. There will be many obstacles to conducting these elections in a manner that is safe for the school district staff who must work with the absentee ballots, as well as the general public."

This year the rules for all districts aside from the big cities was that candidates didn't need any signatures but instead could just nominate themselves.

The annual vote will take place by mail. School districts must send every eligible voter an absentee ballot with a postage-paid return envelope.

They also must mail a notice detailing the date of the election, date of the budget hearing, and a definition of qualified voter.

Public libraries that are usually on the ballot are to be included in this absentee voting system.

Deadline for school boards to adopt the budget prior to property tax report card filing is May 22. District officials must transmit the annual property tax report card to the state education department by the end of the next business day following its approval by the school board, but not later than May 22.

By May 26, copies of the budget must be available to residents upon request. The budget and attachments must be posted to the district website.

One thing that hasn't changed is what constitutes a qualified voter. You must be:

• A US citizen
• At least 18 years old by June 9, 2020
• A School District resident for 30 days immediately preceding the budget vote/election
• Not otherwise prohibited from voting under the provisions of section 5-106 of the Election Law.

Anyone who is not already an eligible voter can register. According to the Croton-Harmon Board of Education, a qualified voter may register to vote in the June 9, 2020 budget vote/election by registering to vote with the Westchester County Board of Elections. Contact the Westchester County Board of Elections for additional information at: Westchester County Board of Elections, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601, or by calling (914) 995-2000, or by their website. You may also register through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website.

Voters who have previously registered to vote through the School District and have voted in any School District election/vote during the past four (4) calendar years need not re-register to vote for this budget vote/election. In addition, voters who are currently registered to vote through the Westchester County Board of Elections need not re-register to vote for this budget vote/election.