Voter Information
Referendum Vote
Tuesday, December 16
Polls open: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Voter registration form
If you have voted in either a school district election within the
past year or a local general election anytime in the past four
years, you are already registered.
Why vote in school elections?
Strong educational
systems need involved parents and residents.
Voting shows you care
about our schools. Voting is one way to voice your opinions
about the schools. Also, adults who take an
interest in school issues and vote are excellent citizenship
role models for their children.
Who can vote?
All voters must be United States citizens, age 18 or older on
election day, residents of the school district for 30 days
immediately prior to Election Day, and registered. People
sometimes ask if they must own property to vote. The answer to
that is no. The only criteria for registering are that you are a
district resident, a U.S. citizen, and age 18 or older.
How do I register?
Registration simply
involves signing the form indicating that you are
18 or older, are a U.S. citizen, and will have lived in the
district for at least 30 days immediately prior to election day.
You may already be registered:
If you have voted in either a school district election within the
past year or a local general election anytime in the past four
years, you are already registered.
If you are not registered:
Ongoing Voter Registration - The district is
holding
open registration for residents who want to
register with the
County Board of Elections prior to
the May 19, 2009 budget vote.
Registration forms
are available at:
•
District Clerk’s Office
Administration Building
9 Thompson Street
Port Jervis, NY 12771
Weekdays,
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•
Board of Education meetings, budget
development meetings, and budget
presentations.
•
You can also download the New York State
voter registration form
from our Web site.
Completed forms should
be returned to the
Orange County Board of Elections on the
address
provided on the form, one week prior to the vote.
What will I be voting on?
On May 19, 2009, district residents will vote on the
proposed budget for the 2009-10 school year and candidates for the
Board of Education.
On Dec. 16, 2008, district residents will go to the polls
to vote on
a proposed
$5.55 million building renovation project and a proposition to
establish a new 10-year capital reserve fund to offset the costs
of a future school building.
•
The Proposed Budget
-
Developing the proposed budget for the coming school year is one
of the
Board of Education’s most important and difficult tasks, a
process that takes months to complete each year. All district
households receive a detailed newsletter about the budget
approximately 10 days before the vote. The newsletter describes
how the budget was arrived at, what services it will provide,
and how it will affect local property tax rates.
•
Candidates for the Board of Education
- Our Board of Education has nine members who serve three-year
terms of office at no salary. All board members run at large.
•
Propositions -State law
requires that the Board of Education seek and receive approval
by the voters before it can spend money. Other actions the
Board wishes to take may legally require voter approval from
time to time. Generally, whenever the district is considering
spending a large
sum of money in addition to the general operating budget, this
spending will appear on the ballot as a specific proposition for
the voters to consider.
When and where do I vote?
By law, New York State school districts vote on the third Tuesday
in May, which for 2009 is
Tuesday, May 19.
This year, a special vote will be held on Dec. 16.
Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at four
locations: Huguenot Fire House, Sparrowbush Fire House, Deerpark
Town Building No. 2, and the Port Jervis Middle School.
If you are not sure where you should vote, call
the the District Clerk at 858-3175.
|
» Election District #1
Huguenot
Fire House
» Election District #2
Deerpark Municipal Building 2
» Election District #3
Sparrowbush Fire House
» Election District #4
Port Jervis Middle School
» Residents are permitted to vote
in school elections by absentee ballots for several reasons,
including hospitalization
or out-of-town business or travel.
Absentee ballots can be
obtained from the District Clerk. The ballots must be returned no later
than 5 p.m. on election day.
For more information or to obtain an absentee ballot, call
858-3175.
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