As schools scramble to mail ballots for this year’s school budget/board elections, Senator Tedisco asks Governor to extend absentee voting by one week until June 16th to prevent voter disenfranchisement
Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) today called Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office and asked that the Governor through Executive Order extend New York State’s local school district elections by one week, until Tuesday, June 16th.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s school budget vote was delayed until June 9th as an all-absentee ballot election. Many school districts are scrambling to obtain lists of eligible voters, print and mail the ballots, and give adequate time for voters to complete and return the ballots. As of today, there are still some school districts that have yet to finalize their mailing of ballots.
“I’m getting constituent calls from all parts of the 49th Senate District from residents who want to vote in this year’s school budget elections but still haven’t received their absentee ballots. That’s really concerning, because we are just two days away from when people could reasonably receive their ballots and mail them back in hopes they get to the school districts on time to be counted. Many people, myself included, don’t always check their mailboxes every day. That’s why today, I’m calling on the Governor to extend the voting period for our school district elections by one week until Tuesday, June 16th, to ensure everyone who wants to vote can vote and prevent voter disenfranchisement,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.
“As a former public school teacher, guidance counselor, athletic director and coach, I know how important it is to ensure full voter participation in our school district elections. A real concern is also for our brave service men and women who are putting their lives on the line and may be out of the area. We need to be sure they have the additional time to vote so they can fully exercise their rights that they are putting their lives on the line to defend for all of us,” said Senator Tedisco.
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