Grisanti Bill That Moves Buffalo School Board Elections To November Passes | News

Senator Mark Grisanti (R-60) today announced that the New York State Senate has voted to pass Bill S.2478A officially moving the Buffalo School Board Elections from May to November. The Bill will amend the education law to also create a timeline for the electoral proceedings in the future, extend the term of the current members until the last day of December rather than June, provide for future terns to run from January to December and stagger the terms of the Board. The goal of this bill is to increase voter participation and lessen the costs associated with the election process.
 
"This bill tackles one of the biggest problems in the City of Buffalo which is the state of the educational system. The elected members of the School Board play an ever increasing role in the future success of our City. Per this bill, elections for who will represent the citizens in making decisions about teachers, students and institutions will be decided at the same time as most other major offices. It is hoped that with this move to November more than five percent of the population will decide such an enormously important contest," said Senator Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo). " Additionally, the moving of elections will save the City of Buffalo nearly $150,000-$200,000. A special election that drew few voters and had a high cost made no sense. I am pleased the Senate voted to make this change."
 
The law will go into effect on November 8, 2012 and on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for each year in which an incumbent's term expires. All terms slated to expire at the end of June 2012 will be extended until the end of December. The term of office will remain three years and the term of office for the at large members shall be five years.
 
Currently, Rochester and Syracuse hold their school board elections in November.