June 2020 Voting Information

The Hudson City School District’s annual Budget Vote & Board of Education Election is scheduled for June 9, 2020.

In the interest of public safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting this year will take place using absentee ballots only, per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order. Every eligible voter is entitled to receive an absentee ballot and a postage paid return envelope in the mail.

Getting an Absentee Ballottranslation instructions

(UPDATE 6/1) All registered voters will be automatically sent an absentee ballot and prepaid return envelope in the mail. The company we (and many school districts) were working with to mail absentee ballots to all registered voters informed us late on Friday (May 29) that ballots were delayed due to supply shortages. The absentee ballots will be mailed no later than the legally required date (June 3) and will be arriving to mailboxes of all registered voters this week. Registered voters will soon receive an absentee ballot in the mail which includes a prepaid return envelope. Read more about submitting completed absentee ballots.

No new ballots can be provided to a voter, for any reason, after June 9 at 5 p.m.

To be qualified to vote, you must be:

  • A U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older;
  • A primary resident of the Hudson City School District for a period of 30 days or more directly preceding the day of the vote;
  • Not otherwise ineligible to vote under Section 5-106 of the Election Law.

Military Absentee Ballots

As in previous years, requests for military absentee ballots will be fulfilled by mail. If you are on last year’s poll list and you wish to receive the ballot in a manner other than mail (i.e., email or fax), you MUST complete and submit this form

If you are not on last year’s poll list, you MUST complete and submit this form

Completed applications must be received (mail or email) by the District Clerk no later than Monday, May 25, 2020 at 5 p.m.:

Leslie Coons, District Clerk
Hudson City School District
215 Harry Howard Avenue
Hudson, NY 12534
districtclerk@hudsoncsd.org
518-828-4360 ext. 2100

Submitting Completed Absentee Ballots

(UPDATE 6/8) On June 7, Governor Cuomo announced an extension for absentee ballots due to timing issues faced by many school districts. You can still drop off your ballot in person either Monday, June 8 or Tuesday, June 9 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or return the ballot by mail so that it is received by June 16. Here are the drop off locations for 6/8 and 6/9:

School representatives will be at each of the above locations with secure lock boxes on June 8 and 9 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.).

As stated in the Executive Order, ballots cannot be accepted after 5 p.m. on June 9 except those received by mail. Ballots cannot be counted until after 5 p.m. on June 16 (or June 17, if districts desire).

Please be reminded that the ballot envelope must be signed for the vote to be counted.

How to Complete an Absentee Ballot

The absentee ballot, and filling out the absentee ballot return envelope, is probably new for most of our residents. New York State law requires you to include your name, address and signature on the outside of the return envelope. The envelope must be signed for the vote to be counted. This video briefly explains the process:

 

How We Process & Count Absentee Ballots

You may have questions about how we process absentee ballots, particularly how we ensure voter anonymity when voters must include their name, address and signature.

We will ensure voter anonymity through a three-step process (a two-step process is required by law). First, prior to the oath envelope being opened, specific Election Inspectors compare the voter’s name and address on the envelope to our qualified voter roll to confirm that only residents of the District are voting. The same Election Inspectors make sure the envelope is signed to ensure that no one other than you used your ballot to cast a vote. (Remember that you must sign the envelope for the vote to be counted.)

Once this information has been certified by the Election Inspectors, the oath envelope is locked away until the day of the vote (June 9). At that time, another set of Election Inspectors will open the envelope and remove the folded ballot, without unfolding it. The folded ballot is immediately separated from the return envelope. The folded ballot is passed to a different set of Election Inspectors whose sole job is to record the votes as presented on the ballot (which does not include any personally identifiable information).

Questions?

Leslie Coons, District Clerk, can be reached at 518-828-4360 ext. 2100. Leave a message with your name and phone number and she will call you back.