Senator Larkin’s Ward Voting Bill Passes Senate
June 21, 2017
Senator Bill Larkin (R-C-I, 39th District) passed legislation that would permit union free and central school districts to establish school election wards. This legislation will restrict the election of candidates to the board of education to the particular election district where those candidates and the voters for that district reside.
“This legislation will authorize the voters of central school districts and union free school districts to approve ward voting systems for the purpose of school board elections,” said Senator Bill Larkin. “Today we acted to ensure that one area of a school district cannot be overrepresented or underrepresented on a school board. This is an issue that affects school districts throughout the State and I was glad to see it passed in the Senate for the second year in a row.”
“I want to thank Senator Larkin for hearing our concerns and taking action once again to ensure that our school district is given the opportunity to create election wards,” said Pine Bush School Board Member Matt Watkins. “We believe this legislation is vital to maintain balanced representation in our community moving forward.”
This legislation has now passed both houses of the Legislature and will be delivered to Governor Andrew Cuomo for his consideration.