Elections

Qualifications

A Board of Education member of the Stillwater Central School District must meet the following qualifications:

1. A citizen of the United States;
2. Eighteen years of age or older;
3. Able to read and write;
4. A legal resident of the District for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year prior to the election;
5. Cannot be an employee of the District;
6. The only member of his or her family (that is, cannot be a member of the same household) on the District Board;
7. May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office, including, but not limited to Superintendent, clerk, tax collector, treasurer or librarian, or an employee of the Board.
   1. In union free and central school districts, however, a Board member may be appointed clerk of the Board and of the District.
   2. A Board member of a BOCES may not be employed by any of that BOCES’ component districts.
   3. In small city school districts, Board members may not hold any city office other than that of police officer or firefighter.
8. Must not have been removed from a school district office within one year preceding the date of appointment or election to the Board.

Education Law Sections 1602, 1702(1), 1804(1), 1950(9), 2101, 2102, 2103, 2103-a, 2130(1), 2105, and 2502 Public Officers Law § 3 Town Law Section 23(1)
Source: Board Policy #1120 Board of Education: Nomination and Elections
Adopted: 5/22/18

Nomination and Election

1. Candidates for the office of member of the Board must be nominated by a petition directed to the District Clerk which is signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, or by 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election, whichever is greater. Petitions must state the residence of each signer and the name and residence of each candidate.
2. The notice of the Annual District Meeting must state that petitions nominating candidates for the Board must be filed with the Clerk of the District no later than 30 days before the Annual or Special District Meeting at which the school board election will occur, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
3. Voting will be by machine or paper ballot, and provision will be made for the election by “write-in-vote” of any candidate not previously nominated. The position of candidates on ballots will be determined by lot at a drawing conducted by the District Clerk on the day after the last filing. Candidates or their proxies may be present for the drawing.
4. The hours of voting will be as indicated by Board resolution.
5. The candidates receiving the largest number of will be declared elected in accordance with Education Law.
6. At least ten days prior to the election, the Board will appoint at least two inspectors of election for each voting machine or ballot box, and set their salary.
7. The District Clerk will oversee the election. The Clerk will also give notice immediately to each person declared elected to the Board, informing him or her of the election and his or her term of office.
8. Only qualified voters, as determined by Education Law Section 2012, may vote at any District meeting or election.
9. No electioneering will be allowed within 100 feet of the polling place.
10. When a term of office expires at the end of a school year and the office has become vacant at the time of election, the person elected to fill the new full term vacancy also fills the remaining days of the previous term, beginning his or her term of office immediately upon election and the taking and filing of the oath of office.

Education Law Sections 2004, 2012, 2018, 2025, 2029, 2031-a, 2032, 2034, 2105(14), 2121, 2502, 2602, 2608(1) and 2610
Source: Board Policy #1120 Board of Education: Nomination and Elections
Adopted: 5/22/18