Reduction in Number of Signatures Required for Nominating Petitions for 2021 School Board Candidates

Reduction in Number of Signatures Required for Nominating Petitions for 2021 School Board Candidates

KEEPING YOU INFORMED…

As you know, the school board member election cycle for 2021 is set to begin. Due to the ongoing public health crisis, Governor Cuomo has signed legislation temporarily reducing the threshold number of signatures school board candidates must collect for nominating petitions in 2021. The temporary reduction is meant to allow candidates to collect voters’ signatures while adhering to public safety guidelines.

Prior to this amendment, a nominating petition for school districts (other than city school districts) had to be signed by the greater of 25 qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters from the prior year’s election, which this year would have been the 2020 election. However, the number of signatures required for 2021 nominating petitions has been amended to require that the petitions be signed by the greater of 25 qualified district voters or 2% of the voters who voted in the 2019 election.

This reduction expires on December 31, 2021. If you have any questions about it, please contact Mara N. Harvey or any of our other education attorneys by calling 631-694-2300.

THIS MEMORANDUM IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. THOSE WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

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