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VOTING PROCEDURES |
2120.2 | |
Eligibility to VoteA person shall be entitled to vote in any school district election and in all matters placed upon the official ballot, if such person is: 1. a citizen of the United States; 2. at least eighteen years of age; 3.
a
resident within the school district for a period of thirty days 4.
is
eligible to register to vote at the time of the election, in accord a) certain convicted felons; b) persons adjudged mentally incompetent by a court; and 5. will be listed upon current voter registration lists maintained by the local Board of Elections or properly registered to vote within the school district. In such districts, the Board of Education shall appoint a Board of Registration, consisting of ten (10) district residents, two (2) from each election district. The Board of Registration shall meet on the day established for voting at the annual meeting and the day established for voting at any special district meeting. The Board of Registration shall also meet in the various election districts between the fifth and fourteenth day preceding each of the above district meetings and at other times determined by the Board, for the purpose of registering new eligible voters. Challenges to Voters Believed Unqualified to Vote Challenges to voters believed unqualified to vote may be undertaken pursuant to Education Law provisions. As provided in sections 2019 and 2025 of the Education Law, each annual or special election or meeting shall have a presiding chairman appointed by the Board. Such chairman shall have the responsibility of properly handling any challenges to the qualification of any voter. If there is a doubt as to the qualifications for an individual wanting to vote that individual is to complete an affidavit attesting to his/her qualifications to vote. They must then complete a paper ballot to vote which is placed in the affidavit envelope, sealed, and placed in the locked ballot box. Voting The Board shall order the District Clerk to make all necessary preparations for voting in accordance with Sections 2019 and 2025 of Education Law. The Board shall appoint such assistant clerks and election inspectors as may be necessary. Voting machines shall be used for recording the votes on all elections, budget votes, and votes on special propositions. The only exception to the use of voting machines shall be an emergency situation whereby the machines are unavailable due to a mechanical failure or state or local law prohibiting their use. If this should arise, paper ballots will be used. Each voting machine shall have at least one clerk or assistant clerk appointed by the Board in attendance during all voting hours. It shall be the duty of each clerk or assistant clerk to keep a poll list containing the names, signatures, and legal residence of each person before such person is permitted to vote. Each polling site shall have at least two (2) election inspectors appointed by the Board. The Board shall designate a chief election inspector for each election district. Entering a voting machine with another person is prohibited, except upon request from a voter, in which case an election inspector shall be allowed to enter the voting machine with that voter for the sole purpose of assisting that person in the actual manipulation of the voting machine. The election inspector shall not advise or induce such voter to vote on any proposition or candidate, and the election inspector shall never reveal the vote(s) recorded by the voter to any other person at anytime. Write-in ballots are permissible, when applicable, by utilizing the write-in device provided with the voting machine. If voting machines are not used, ballots containing the names of nominated candidates will be provided by the Board. On a paper ballot, one blank space will be provided under the name of the last candidate for each office so that voters may vote for candidates who have not been nominated for the offices to be filled at the election. The writing in, with a black lead pencil, of a name in the blank space so provided, will sufficiently indicate a vote. It will not be necessary for a voter to place any other mark beside the name of a write-in candidate. Absentee Ballots The Board permits the use of absentee ballots for voting. Such ballots shall be available for the election of members of the Board of Education, the adoption of the school district budget, and on questions and propositions submitted to the voters of the district. Applications for absentee ballots will be sent by the district clerk to qualified voters wishing to vote by absentee ballot, upon request, via first class or certified mail. The application must be completed and returned to the district clerk, and the individual must verify therein that he/she meets all voting requirements, and explain the reason for his/her inability to appear in person to vote. In particular, the individual must explain that he/she will be unable to appear to vote in person on the day of the school district election because: 1. he/she will be a patient in a hospital, or unable to appear personally at the polling place on such day because of illness or physical disability. A voter who claims permanent illness or physical disability may apply for an absentee ballot and the right to receive an absentee ballot for each election thereafter without further application by filing an application containing a statement setting forth the particulars of his/her permanent illness or disability with the Board of Elections; 2.
his/her duties, occupation, business, or studies will require
him/her to 3. he/she will be on vacation outside the county or city of his/her residence on such day; or 4. he/she will be detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury; awaiting trial; or is confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony. If the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, the application must be received by the district clerk at least seven days prior to the election; if the application is to be personally delivered, the application must be received by the day before the election. Proxy votes are not allowed. Registration at Time of Election An individual may register to vote on the day of an election but can not cast a vote in that election. They would be eligible to vote in the next scheduled school vote. Training: Election Inspectors/Tellers The District Clerk is charged with the responsibility for arranging and coordinating an annual training session for all individuals, who have prior approval by the Board of Education, to serve as Election Inspectors and Tellers for the Annual School District Meeting. The training is to be considered mandatory, and is to be conducted within thirty (30) days prior to the Annual District Meeting. The areas to be covered during the training sessions must include as a minimum: · Eligibility to vote · Voter Registration · Challenges to votes believed to be unqualified · Maintaining voter records · Absentee Ballots Ref:
Education Law §§2012; 2014; 2018; 2018-a; 2018-b; |
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| Date of Approval: May 6, 2002 |