2020-21 School Budget Vote Results

The 2020-21 school budget passed with 2,538 yes votes; 950 no votes. Results for the election of members to the two seats on the Board of Education are: Russ Crafton 2,271; Jennifer Munn 1,792; and Jenna Seeley 1,987. The district is grateful for the continued support from our community for our students and programs. 

Annual Budget Vote & Election  - June 9, 2020 (Ballot Canvass Date is NOW June 16)

WILL I RECEIVE A BALLOT? Click HERE to find out if you are a registered voter in the Red Hook Central School District. You must enter your date of birth with two digits for month and date, and four digits for year!  

For a digital copy of the 2020-21 Budget Vote NEWSLETTER, please click here!

UPDATED STATUS OF BUDGET VOTE DEADLINE AS PER GOVERNOR CUOMO'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 202.39 on June 7, 2020:

The District will have a ballot box available for those who want to drop off their ballots in person for the June 9 budget vote and BoE election. The ballot box will be available outside of Mill Road Elementary School (on the north side of the building, adjacent to the large bus parking lot under the white canopy entrance) from 8 am to 5 pm on both Monday, June 8, AND Tuesday, June 9. If you have any questions, please call the District Clerk at 845-758-2241 ext. 55010.

UPDATED STATUS DUE TO CUOMO'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 202.39: The new date to canvass ballots is now June 16, beginning after 5 pm. No ballots may be opened before 5 pm on June 16. 

In-person drop off of ballots is only permitted up until 5 pm on June 9. After 5 pm on June 9, ballots CANNOT be accepted if personally delivered. They must be mailed to the district and received by June 16. The in-person drop box at Mill Road will be secured as of 5 pm on June 9 and kept in a secure location until the ballot count on June 16.

Absentee ballots may be mailed to the district and if received by June 16, shall be counted. This extends the date when ballots can be accepted through, and this expansion is regardless of the date the envelope is postmarked. As long as the district receives the ballot back in the mail on or before June 16, it will be counted.

Please note that it appears that ballots are NOT to be issued to voters after 5 pm on June 9.  Even though the date for the canvass has been changed, the Election Date is still June 9, and thus, ballots are not to be issued to voters beyond June 9 at 5 pm. If you have not yet received your ballot, please call the District Clerk at 845-758-2241 ext. 55010 ASAP.

Pursuant to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo's Executive Order 202.26, School budget votes and school board elections will be held on June 9, 2020. Click here for the Governor's Executive Order. Voting on June 9th will take place by absentee ballot only using postage-paid envelopes provided by the School District to all qualified voters.

BOE Candidates: The Governor’s Executive Order eliminates the need for School Board Candidates to file petitions (no need to collect signatures) in order to be listed on the ballot. Individuals can self-nominate by emailing the District Clerk, Elena Maskell at: emaskell@rhcsd.org. The self-nomination form and first expenditure report must be received by the District Clerk, either electronically, by fax, or mail no later than May 11, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. In accordance with the Executive Order candidates will be listed alphabetically by last name on the ballot, provided they meet all other legal requirements. 

Public Hearing: The Public Hearing will held on May 27, 2020 via Zoom Videoconferencing at 7:00 p.m. Anyone interested in attending this meeting can email the District Clerk, Elena Maskell at: emaskell@rhcsd.org. Public Comments for the Hearing are available by emailing: BOEpubliccomments@rhcsd.org. Emails received will be read aloud during the Public Hearing.

Annual Meeting: the June 9, 2020, election and budget vote "shall be deemed the annual meeting or annual meeting and election of the district for all purposes." This year: Absentee Ballots will be sent to "all qualified voters". A qualified voter is anyone who meets the following requirements: 

• A US Citizen;
• Is at least eighteen years old by June 9, 2020;
• A School District resident for 30 days immediately preceding the budget vote/election; and
• Is not otherwise ineligible to vote under Section 5-106 of the Election Law.

All qualified voters will be receiving ballots via First Class Mail populated from a list obtained from Dutchess and Columbia County Board of Elections. Ballots will be mailed out automatically. No action is needed from qualified voters in order to receive a ballot. 

The District will make every effort to provide absentee ballots to all qualified voters in a mass mailing. If you did not receive an absentee ballot by Friday, May 29, 2020 and you are a qualified voter as outlined above who wishes to vote, please complete the attached form requesting an absentee ballot and submit it as soon as possible (directions on the form). Click here for Absentee Ballot Request Form.

Military Ballots: Absentee Ballots for Military personnel who will not be in the district for the vote may complete the attached for and an absentee ballot will be sent to them for their use (please follow directions on the form). Click here for Military Absentee Ballot Request Form

To register to vote in future elections, please go to the Dutchess County Board of Elections http://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application or to print out a voter registration form go to Dutchess County Board of Elections at http://www.dutchesselections.com/Forms/voteform.pdf and mail your registration to the Dutchess County Board of Elections.