Budget vote absentee ballot applications available

The Fayetteville-Manlius School District will be asking residents to vote May 18 on a $93.4 million budget proposal that maintains existing student programming and supports the district’s strategic plan.

Voters can also weigh in on a proposition to purchase five school buses and elect three candidates to the F-M Board of Education.

Any resident who is an eligible voter who will be out of town on that date or unable to get to the polls can submit an application to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots will not be automatically mailed to all registered voters as they were for last year’s unprecedented school budget vote.

Individuals are eligible to vote if they are a U.S citizen, at least 18 years old and a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

The following are valid reasons for eligible voters to apply for an absentee ballot. If you are:

  • A patient in the hospital or unable to appear personally at the polling place because of illness or physical disability;
  • Required by duties, studies, occupation or business to be outside of the county on the vote date. A brief description of such duties, studies, occupation or business that requires such absence would need to be provided on the ballot application;
  • On vacation outside of the county;
  • Detained in jail awaiting grand jury action;
  • Confined in prison after conviction of an offense other than a felony;
  • Detained in jail awaiting trial, and
  • Accompanying a spouse, parent or child outside of the county on the vote date.

Absentee ballot applications are available online and at the F-M District Office, 8199 E. Seneca Turnpike, Manlius. Residents can also contact District Clerk Sarah Gridley at sgridley@fmschools.org or by phone 315-692-1200 to request an absentee ballot application. If requesting by email, please include your name, address and phone number with the request.

Applications must be received at the F-M District Office by 4 p.m. May 11 if the ballot is to be mailed, or 4 p.m. May 17 if the ballot is to be picked up.