In an executive order issued on Friday, May 1, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that this year’s school budget vote and board of education election will take place on Tuesday, June 9, exclusively by absentee ballot due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The executive order establishes a timeline for actions that school districts must take leading up to the vote date, which includes sending an absentee ballot with a prepaid return envelope to all qualified voters. Qualified voters are defined as U.S. citizens who are 18 years or older and have lived in the district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

Following budget adoption on Tuesday, May 19, the district will make the proposed budget available to the public, hold a budget hearing on Tuesday, June 2 (which will take place remotely), and mail a budget notice to all residents after the budget hearing. This procedure is no different than other years except for the hearing being held remotely.

Additionally, the executive order calls for districts to send each qualified voter a postcard with the date of the election, the date of the budget hearing and the definition of a qualified voter.

Board of Education Election

The executive order also waived the minimum signature threshold for board of education candidates and states that candidates must meet all of the other requirements to run for the board. These requirements include being a qualified voter and a resident of the district continuously for one year prior to the election. Candidates must complete a modified nominating petition and return it to the district by 5 p.m. Monday, May 11 to be placed on the ballot. Download the nominating petition