A new school board election has been ordered in the Hempstead Union Free School District on Long Island after an internal investigation uncovered serious irregularities in the original election. The probe found that the district clerk destroyed ballots and smuggled them out of her office to help re-elect the incumbent board president.
The original election took place on May 19, but state officials overturned the results after a petition alleged tampering with the vote. The investigation concluded that the district clerk's actions compromised the integrity of the election, and state officials have appointed a temporary clerk to manage the revote.
The district clerk is accused of tearing up ballots and removing them from her office in an effort to benefit the incumbent board president, who also works as a local DJ. The state Education Commissioner has directed that a fresh election be conducted under strict oversight, and the new election must be held within 60 days.
A spokesperson for the Hempstead school district said the board appreciates the commissioner's thorough review and will comply with the order to hold a new election. The district has issued a statement expressing its commitment to following the commissioner's ruling and moving forward with the revote.
No specific date has been set yet for the revote, but the Nassau County District Attorney's office has opened its own investigation into the matter. This investigation will determine whether criminal charges are warranted against the district clerk or anyone else involved in the alleged tampering.
