Citizens who are not registered to vote in their communities have until March 28 to register if they want to take part in their local 2006 school election of board candidates and budgets.

On Tuesday, April 18, voters will decide their school district’s proposed 2004-05 school budgets and select the people to represent them on their local boards of education. Elections will take place in more than 550 of the state’s 601 school districts, as voters choose candidates to fill over 1,500 school board seats.

“Local school boards face serious issues involving funding, educational requirements, construction and staffing,” said Patti J. Pawling, NJSBA president. “It is crucial that New Jersey voters take part by making the decisions that will shape their public schools.”

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 in which he or she seeks to vote for 30 days before the election. In order to be eligible to vote in the April 18 Annual School Election, citizens who are not registered may do so at the office of their municipal clerk or county board of elections by March 28.

Absentee ballots Voters who are unable to go to the polls on April 18 may apply for an absentee ballot, which is available at the county clerk’s office. If a resident applies for an absentee ballot by mail, the application needs to arrive at the county clerk’s office by Tuesday, April 11. People who want to apply for an absentee ballot in person need to visit the county clerk’s office by 3 p.m. April 17.

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.

Here is a list of important dates for the 2006 Annual School Elections:

March 28, 2006
Voter registration deadline for citizens currently not registered to vote in their municipalities.

April 11, 2006
Deadline for county clerks to receive applications by mail for absentee ballots.

April 17, 2006
Deadline for applying in person to the county clerk for an absentee ballot (up to 3 p.m.)

April 18, 2006
Annual School Election. It is also the last day in which the county board of elections can receive absentee ballots (by 9 p.m.)