Eligibility to Vote
A person will be entitled to vote in any District election and in all matters placed upon the official ballot, if such person is:
A citizen of the United States;
At least 18 years of age;
A resident within the District for a period of 30 days immediately preceding the election at which such person desires to vote;
is registered to vote with the District or County of Westchester in accordance with section 5-106 of the Election Law which excludes:
a. Those convicted felons who have not been pardoned or had their rights of citizenship restored, those whose maximum sentence of
imprisonment has not expired; and/or those who have not been discharged from parole;
b. Persons adjudged mentally incompetent by a court
Eligible residents may register at the Office of the District Clerk during the school day at hours specified by the District Clerk.
Challenges to voters believed unqualified to vote may be undertaken pursuant to Education Law provisions. Each annual or special election or meeting will have a presiding chairperson appointed by the Board. Such chairperson will have the responsibility of opening and closing the polls, and of properly handling any challenges to the qualification of any voter.
Voting
Voting machines will 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 will be an emergency situation whereby the machines are unavailable due to a mechanical or technical failure. If this should arise, paper ballots will be used.
Each voting machine will have at least two election inspectors appointed by the Board in attendance during all voting hours. It will be the duty of the District Clerk (or Clerk Pro-Tem) to keep a poll list containing the name and legal residence of each person before such person is permitted to vote.
The election inspectors will not advise or induce any voter to vote on any proposition or candidate, and the election inspectors will never reveal the vote(s) recorded by the voter to any other person at any time.
Ballots containing the names of nominated candidates and as many write-in spaces as there are vacancies at the time of the election will be provided by the Board. The writing in, with a pen, of a name in the blank space so provided will indicate a vote. The District cannot require a voter to place any other mark beside the name of a write-in candidate.
Absentee Ballots
The Board provides for the use of absentee ballots for voting on the school budget, for the election of members of the Board, and on questions and propositions submitted to the voters of the District. A completed absentee ballot application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the election if the ballot will be mailed to the voter or by the day before the election if the ballot is to be personally delivered to the voter at the District Office.
In particular, the individual must explain the reason for their inability to appear to vote in person on the day of the District election because:
they 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 their permanent illness or disability with the Board of Elections;
their duties, occupation, business, or studies will require them to be outside of the county or city of their residence on such day;
they will be on vacation outside the county or city of their residence on such day; or
they 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.
The District will request registration lists from the Westchester County Board of Elections for those voters whose registration record has been marked “permanently disabled” and will automatically mail absentee ballots to such voters in advance of each District vote or election.
Military Ballots
The Board provides for the use of military ballots for voting on the school budget, for the election of members of the Board and on questions and propositions submitted to the voters of the District.
A military voter is:
a. A qualified voter of New York State who:
is in actual military service and, by reason of that military service, is absent from the District on the day of registration or election; or
is discharged from that military service within 30 days of an election; or
b. A spouse, parent, child, or dependent of the previously described voter, accompanying or being with that voter, if a qualified voter of New York State and a resident of the District.
A military voter may designate a preference to receive a military ballot application or a military ballot by mail, fax, or email. This designation will remain in effect until revoked or changed by the military voter. If a military voter does not designate a preference, a military ballot application or a military ballot will be provided to the military voter by mail.
Military ballots will be distributed as soon as practicable, but no later than 25 days before the election/vote.
A voter’s military ballot must be received by the Office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election in order that the military voters' vote may be canvassed at which point the military ballot will be processed in the same manner as absentee ballots.
All military ballot applications and military ballots must be returned to the Office of the District Clerk by mail or in person.
Early Mail Ballots
The Board provides for the use of early mail ballots for voting on the school budget, for the election of members of the Board, and on questions and propositions submitted to the voters of the District.
A District voter must request in advance an application for an early mail ballot. The voter must complete the application. A completed early mail ballot application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the election will be mailed to the voter or by the day before the election vote if the ballot is to be personally delivered to the voter or their authorized agent.
Any qualified District voter is eligible to vote by early mail ballot.
Statements on the application for an early mail ballot must be signed and dated by the voter.
A voter’s early mail ballot must reach the Office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election in order that their vote may be canvassed.
Ref: Education Law §§2012; 2014; 2018; 2018-a; 2018-b; 2018-c; 2018-d, 2018-e; 2019;
2019-a; 2020; 2025; 2032(2)(e); 2035; 2037; 2603; 2607; 2610; 2613
Election Law §§3-224; 5-106; 5-612; 5-400; 5-406
8 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 122
Matter of Rodriguez, 31 EDR 471 (1992)
Matter of Gresty, 31 EDR 90 (1991)
Matter of Ferro, 25 EDR 175 (1985)
Matter of Manno and Maloney, 23 EDR 172 (1983)
Matter of Yost, 21 EDR 140 (1981)
Matter of Alpert and Helmer, 20 EDR 281 (1980)
Matter of Reigler and Barton, 16 EDR 256 (1977)
Adoption date: December 1, 1995
Amended date: October 15, 2007
Amended date: May 22, 2017
Amended date: March 3, 2025