In-person, COVID-19 absentee options for May 18 vote

  • Posted March 29, 2021
Picture of budget vote sign and American flag outside New Scotland Elementary School.

The City School District of Albany will return to in-person voting for this year’s budget vote and Board of Education election, with an important additional absentee option due to COVID-19.

The state will allow concerns regarding potential exposure to COVID-19 as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot for this year’s school vote, which will be held Tuesday, May 18. Voters interested in casting an absentee ballot can select that option by checking “temporary illness or physical disability” on the absentee ballot application. 

You also can contact Board Clerk Tanya Bowie at tbowie@albany.k12.ny.us or (518) 475-6015 to request an absentee ballot application, or with additional questions.  

  • If you request an absentee ballot be sent to you by mail, a completed absentee application must be received by the district clerk at least seven days before the vote – by Tuesday, May 11 at 4 p.m.
  • If you plan to pick up the absentee ballot in-person at Academy Park, you have until the day before the vote to submit an absentee application – Monday, May 17 by 4 p.m. 

Along with the absentee options, the district will conduct voting in-person May 18 at 15 locations throughout the city. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. 

The board and district are currently in the process of developing a budget proposal for the 2021-22 school year. The board has two meetings scheduled this week, on Monday and Thursday, that will include budget discussions. The meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at Albany School of Humanities, 108 Whitehall Road. You also can attend the meetings virtually. 

The board anticipates adopting a 2021-22 budget proposal by mid-April. 

You can visit our Budget section for more information, and updates as the process moves forward.

Two seats on the board also will be up for election May 18. The terms of Vice President Vickie Smith and board member Sridar Chittur, Ph.D., expire June 30; both plan to seek re-election. You can visit our Board section for more information about running for the board.