P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI

March 25 is Voter Registration Deadline for School Elections

TRENTON, March 18, 2008 — Residents who are not registered to vote have until Tuesday, March 25 if they want to participate in the 2008 Annual School Election, the New Jersey School Boards Association’s president reminded residents today.

On Tuesday, April 15, voters will decide their school district’s proposed 2008-2009 school budgets and select the people to represent them on their local boards of education. Elections will take place in 554 of the state’s 603 school districts, as voters choose candidates to fill more than 1,500 school board seats.

“Local boards of education will be making tough financial decisions to help their districts attract and retain highly-skilled teachers, and advance their students academically, while still maintaining sensitivity toward taxpayers,” said Kevin E. Ciak, NJSBA president. “We encourage New Jersey residents to exercise their right to vote and to take part in their communities’ public education systems.”

Registration To register to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old by the election date, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the state and county where they plan to vote 21 days before the election. In order to be eligible to vote in the April 15 Annual School Election, residents who are not registered should visit their municipal clerk’s office or county board of elections by March 25.  

Military ballots A military absentee ballot may be used by someone who is in the military service; their spouses or dependents; by someone who is a patient of a veteran’s hospital; or by a civilian attached to or serving with the Armed Forces of the United States. Citizens who need a military absentee ballot should contact the county clerk for information and deadlines.

[A list of important dates for the 2008 Annual School Election follows.]

VOTER INFORMATION
2008 Annual School Election

March 25:    Voter registration deadline for citizens currently not registered to vote in their municipalities.

April 8:        Deadline for county clerks to receive applications by mail for absentee ballots.

April 14:      Deadline for applying in person to the county clerk for an absentee ballot (up to 3 p.m.)

April 15:      Annual School Election. It is also the last day in which the county board of elections can receive absentee ballots (by 9 p.m.)