Board of Education Election Information - 2023

Overview

The annual Budget Vote and School Board Election will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.  At this time, it will be held in person from 7am to 9pm in the Pelham Middle School Gymnasium at 28 Franklin Place, Pelham, NY.  Two seats on the Board are up for election, each for a three-year term, starting July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2026. 

The candidate must meet the following requirements to be a member of the Board of Education:

  • Must be able to read and write
  • Must be a qualified voter of the District; that is a citizen of the U.S., at least 18 years of age or older at as May 16, 2023 and not be a convicted felon or adjudged to be an incompetent
  • Must be a resident of the District for at least one year prior to the election, but need not be a taxpayer
  • May be the only member of their family on the school board
  • May not be a current employee of the school board
  • May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office
  • Must not have been removed from any school district office within one year of the election

Materials and information included in the Board of Education candidate packet are available using the links on the right.  A candidate packet can also be picked up at the Office of the District Clerk, The Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY, by contacting Pauline Davies at pdavies@pelhamschools.org or at (914) 738-3434 ext. 1155. 

Nominating petitions are due to the District Clerk no later than 5pm on Monday, April 17, 2023. Petitions are to be dropped off in person at the Office of the District Clerk at The Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY.  At this time, 47 original signatures are required on the nominating petition.

Draw for Position on Ballot

Education Law specifies that the placement of names of candidates for the office of School Board Trustees will be placed on the ballot in the order determined by drawing by lot.  The District Clerk will conduct the drawing on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 9am in the Office of the District Clerk located at The Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY.  The District Clerk is authorized to act in proxy for any candidate not present or represented at the time of the drawing.  All candidates are invited to be present or may designate a person to act in proxy.  If the candidate wishes to be represented by a person other than the District Clerk, please note this in writing and send it to pdavies@pelhamschools.org.

Please note that this information is subject to change based on the Governor's Executive Orders

School Board Election Documents

After clicking on a link, click the image that pops up to view the full document.

How to Vote in the May 16 School Budget Vote/ BOE Member Election

Polls will be open from 7am-9pm on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in the Pelham Middle School Gym. All registered voters in the Pelham Union Free School District are eligible to vote.

Voter Registration

The following information pertains to the annual budget vote and school board member election on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Voter Qualifications

Voters must:

  • be 18 years of age or older on the day of the vote. Those will turn 18 on or before May 16, 2023 can register to vote and then be eligible to cast a vote on May 16, 2023

  • be a United States citizen

  • be a resident of the Pelham Union Free School District

  • have lived in the District for at least 30 days prior to the day of the vote

  • not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction

  • not claim the right to vote elsewhere 

  • be registered to vote with either the County Board of Elections or with the School District Board of Registration.

*You are registered if you are on the Westchester County voters’ list and voted at least once during the last 4 years or you have personally registered with the District.

If you are not registered

You can register in person with the School District Board of Registration on the following dates in the Office of the District Clerk at The Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Avenue:

  • Wednesday, April 12 from 10am-2pm

  • Saturday, April 22 from 10am-2pm

  • Tuesday, May 2 from 4-8pm

Any resident of the district who is registered to vote in general elections may vote in the annual budget vote and school board member election without registering with the school district Board of Registration. 

A qualified voter may register to vote in the May 16, 2023 election by registering to vote with the Westchester County Board of Elections.  You may contact the Westchester County Board of Elections for additional information at: Westchester County Board of Elections, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601, or by calling (914) 995-2000, or by their website at: www.citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/register-to-vote. You may also register through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website at: https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application

Please call Pauline Davies, District Clerk, at 914-738-3434, x-1155 if you have any questions.

Absentee Ballots

Qualifications for Absentee Ballots

If a registered voter will not be able to get to the polls on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 between 7am – 9pm, for one or more of the following reasons, absentee ballots are available:

  • absence from county on election day
  • temporary illness or physical disability*
  • permanent illness of physical disability
  • duties related to primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled
  • resident or patient of Veterans Health Administration Hospital
  • detention in jail/prison, awaiting trial, awaiting action by a grand jury, or in prison for conviction of a crime or offense which was not a felony

* Please note that effective January 2, 2023, voters will not have the option of voting in the May 16, 2023 annual budget vote and school board member election by absentee ballot due to risks associated with COVID-19

To Vote by Absentee Ballot

  1. Fill out a School District Absentee Ballot Application (not before Monday, April 17, 2023) and return it to the District Clerk by mail, email or in person
  2. Upon receipt of an Absentee Ballot, fill out the ballot
  3. Return the completed Absentee Ballot to the district

Applications, together with instructions for absentee ballots, can be downloaded from the District website.

Download Absentee Ballot Application (English)

Download Absentee Ballot Application (Spanish)

If absentee ballots are to be mailed to the voter, completed applications must be returned to the District Clerk, The Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY  10803 no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

If applications are delivered personally, they must be turned in to the District Clerk at The Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY  10803 by 4pm on Monday, May 15, 2023.

All absentee ballots must be returned by 5pm on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in order to be included in the tallies.

Pauline Davies, District Clerk, is located in the The Sanborn Map Building, 629 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY  10803. Please contact her for any questions on the Budget Vote and School Board Election at (914) 738-3434, ext. 1155.