Budget vote/board election updates

Think you’ll know the results of the 2020-21 school budget vote/board election this week?

Think again, as it’s not happening.

On June 7, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order extending the deadline for school districts to receive school budget ballots.

To be counted, school budget ballots were accepted by hand delivery through 5 p.m. on June 9 and now can be received by mail through June 16 by school districts.

Per the executive order, any receptacle (ballot box) used for hand delivery of absentee ballots in the vote/election shall be closed and removed at 5 p.m. on June 9.

Only mail-in ballots will be accepted through Tuesday, June 16. Counting of ballots will begin after 5 p.m. on June 16.

The state order requires the counting to be live streamed.

Depending on the number of ballots received, some districts may not report results until the following day.

In a statement, Cuomo said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world, and while we are making great progress and the numbers keep going down, no New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote. Extending the deadline to submit absentee ballots builds on our previous Executive Orders to make it easier for New Yorkers to vote absentee in the upcoming primary election and it will help to increase voter participation as we continue to fight this virus.”

His executive order was issued later on Sunday.

The new executive order adds further angst, as the July 1 new school year approaches, to school districts as they continue to deal with remote learning issues, how to handle graduations and developing re-entry plans for the fall.