Some Poughkeepsie school ballots wind up in Hudson

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POUGHKEEPSIE – The company responsible for printing and mailing absentee/mail-in ballots for several school budget and school board elections has caused Governor Cuomo to push back the date ballots can be received by mail until June 16.  The full range of issues created by the company was previously reported on and can be read here.

Poughkeepsie City School District Clerk Becky Torres has been adapting the procedures to ensure that all votes are counted.  Torres said that the printer, NTS Data Services, has finally mailed the ballots, with the postage-paid return envelope. but has used the wrong school district with several ballot envelopes. A lockbox has been set up in front of her office at 18 South Perry Street, secured by two guards.  Ballots can be deposited in the lockbox until 5 p.m. tomorrow, June 9.

Voter Jackie Emslie lives in the City of Poughkeepsie.  Ms. Emslie received her ballot containing the names of the three candidates for the Poughkeepsie school board.  It also had the correct budget information on it.  The problem, Emslie pointed out was with the return envelope.  The envelope should have the name and address of the Poughkeepsie City School District printed on it.  Instead, the envelope has the address for the City of Hudson School District in Columbia County.

“I understand that these are not normal times and not normal operating conditions,” Emslie said. “I do hope that the City of Poughkeepsie School District coordinates with Hudson School District to retrieve those ballots which will be sent there through no error on the part of the voter.  I would urge all voters to please vote, regardless of the current system experiencing problems.   Let’s focus on the solution despite the problem.   Deal with the ballot vendor later, but right now, do what is needed to get ALL those ballots counted.”

Realizing the error, Torres has contacted the Hudson School District and asked them to set aside any Poughkeepsie ballots they receive in the mail, and Torres will go and claim them.

The school district is advising all voters to review both the ballot and return envelope for accuracy.  If the ballot is correct, but the return envelope is wrong, voters can use their own envelopes and pay for the postage.  All ballots returned by mail must be received by the district no later than June 16.




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