Can I vote in school elections?
There are now three ways to vote in a school budget and election: in-person, via absentee ballot, or via early mail voting.
Voter Qualifications
To vote in school district elections, all voters must be United States citizens, age 18 or older on election day, residents of the BH-BL school district for 30 days immediately prior to election day, and registered.
Registering to Vote
You are already registered to vote in school elections if you have registered to vote in a General Election with your County Board of Elections. If you are not already registered, you may do so by registering with your County Board of Elections.
Absentee Ballots
Registered voters may vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to appear at the polling place the day of the school budget vote. To receive an absentee ballot call the Deputy Clerk of the Board Rebecca Manson (ext. 85029) to request an application form. You can also follow this link to download the 2025 Absentee Ballot Application. The application must be returned to the Deputy Clerk or Clerk of the Board’s office at least 7 days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or at least one day before the election if the ballot is to be picked up personally by the voter at the district office, 88 Lakehill Road, Burnt Hills, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Absentee ballots will be counted only if they are returned to the Deputy Clerk or Clerk of the Board no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the school budget vote. For more information, contact Rebecca Manson at 399-9141, ext. 85029.
Who is a qualified voter?
You are qualified to vote in your school district if you are:
- a citizen of the United States
- at least 18 years of age; and
- a resident of the school district for a period of at least 30 days preceding the meeting or election at which you seek to vote.
No person shall have the right to register for or vote at any school meeting or election who would not be qualified to register for or vote at an election in accordance with the provisions of Election Law § 5-106.
Information for military voters:
Do not use this application if you are:
- a qualified voter who will be absent from your school district on the day of the election as a result of actual military service;
- a qualified voter who has been discharged from actual military service within 30 days of the election in which you seek to vote; or
- the spouse, parent, child, or dependent of a military voter as set forth above who is accompanying such military voter and who is qualified to vote in the same school district as the military voter.
If you meet any of the above criteria, you are entitled to special provisions if you apply for a military ballot. Please contact your school district to receive the appropriate application form.
Information for voters with an illness or disability:
If you check the box indicating your illness or disability is permanent, and you are identified as a permanently disabled voter by the county board of elections, once your application is approved you will automatically receive a ballot for each school district election in which you are eligible to vote, without having to apply again. You may sign the absentee ballot application yourself, or you may make your mark and have your mark witnessed in the spaces provided on the bottom of the application. Please note that a power of attorney or printed name stamp is not allowed for any voting purpose.
Where and when to return this application:
If you request that the absentee ballot be mailed to you, your application must be received by the district clerk for your school district no later than 7 days before the election for which you seek an absentee ballot. Otherwise, you may personally deliver your application to the district clerk no later than the day before the election. You may not submit your application more than 30 days prior to the election. If returning this application in person, deliver to District Offices, 88 Lakehill Road, Hostetter Leadership Center located at 88 Lakehill Road, to the Clerk of the Board, Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If returning this application by mail, mail to Rebecca Manson, Deputy Clerk of the Board, BH-BL Central Schools, PO Box 1389 Ballston Lake, NY 12019. If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Manson, Deputy Clerk of the Board, at (518) 399-9141 extension 85029 or rmanson@bhbl.org.
When your absentee ballot will be sent to you:
If you request that the absentee ballot be mailed to you, the district clerk will mail your ballot by regular mail no later than 6 days prior to the election. Otherwise, the district clerk will deliver your ballot to you or your agent, as designated on your application, when you or your agent appears in the district clerk’s office.
For your ballot to be canvassed, it must be received by the school district clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the election.
Early Mail Voting
On September 20, 2023 the Governor signed into law Chapter 481 of the Laws of 2023 which provided for the New York Early Mail Voter Act, which authorizes the use of early mail ballots in school elections.
Instructions for Obtaining an Early Mail Ballot
Who may use this application for a school district early mail ballot?
You may use the Early Mail Voting application if you are a qualified voter participating in a school election. You may only apply for an early mail ballot on your own behalf. A voter who applies for and is issued an early mail ballot will not be eligible for an absentee ballot for the same election. (Applications are being accepted no earlier than 30 days prior to the vote. Please do not submit your application before April 21, 2025.)
Who is a qualified voter?
You are qualified to vote in your school district if you are:
- a citizen of the United States;
- at least 18 years of age; and
- a resident of the school district for a period of at least 30 days preceding the meeting or election at which you seek to vote.
No person shall have the right to register for or vote at any school meeting or election who would not be qualified to register for or vote at an election in accordance with the provisions of Election Law §5-106.
Information for military voters
Do not use this application if you are:
- a qualified voter who will be absent from your school district on the day of the election as a result of actual military service;
- a qualified voter who has been discharged from actual military service within 30 days of the election in which you seek to vote; or
- the spouse, parent, child, or dependent of a military voter as set forth above who is accompanying such military voter and who is qualified to vote in the same school district as the military voter.
If you meet any of the above criteria, you are entitled to special provisions if you apply for a military ballot. Please contact your school district to receive the appropriate application form.
Information for voters with an illness or disability:
You may sign the early mail ballot application yourself, or you may make your mark and have your mark witnessed in the spaces provided on the bottom of the application. Please note that a power of attorney or printed name stamp is not allowed for any voting purpose.
Where and when to return the application:
If you request that the early mail ballot be mailed to you, your application must be received by the district clerk for your school district no later than 7 days before the election for which you seek an early mail ballot. Otherwise, you may personally deliver your application to the district clerk no later than the day before the election. You may not submit your application more than 30 days prior to the election. This means applications will begin to be accepted on April 21, 2025. Please do not submit an application earlier–it cannot be accepted, per NYS law.
When your early mail ballot will be sent to you:
If you request that the early mail ballot be mailed to you, the district clerk will mail your ballot by regular mail no later than 6 days prior to the election. Otherwise, the district clerk will deliver your ballot to you or your agent, as designated on your application, when you or your agent appears in the district clerk’s office. For your ballot to be canvassed, it must be received by the school district clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the election.