Video Draws Attention at Syosset Schools Voting

A video playing at a polling station during Syosset School District elections raised the ire of more than one Syosset resident.

Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, Syosset Patch received a news tip from a reader saying that "a video produced by the district extolling how great the district was" was playing at South Grove Elementary School.

When a Syosset Patch reporter visited the school and went in the polling entrance, a television just to the left was playing a video.

It appeared to be a similar video to one that debuted at a school board meeting in March, which highlighted the school system's academic and athletic achievements.

The reporter then went down the hall to the voting room. After identifying himself he was asked to leave, saying his presence may unfairly influence voting.

Robbins Lane Elementary School did not have a video playing at the polling entrance. Just behind polling officials, though, were large displays of student art projects identified by class.

Officials there precluded Syosset Patch from taking photos inside the room. The video could be seen playing from a window on the main entrance door, although that was not accessible at the time.  

Multiple people with ties to the school system have expressed to Syosset Patch their displeasure with the voting process, saying that attempts to promote the school system while voting is taking place is common.    

Syosset Patch went to the Syosset School District administrative office Tuesday afternoon to request clarification about the policy. However, it was after 4 p.m. and all the officials had left for the day. South Woods Middle School, which is housed in the same building as the district offices, was not a polling place Tuesday. However, the video was playing just inside one entrance. A source also confirmed that the video was playing at Baylis Elementary School. 

According to the Nassau Board of Elections, that body does not have anything to do with the Syosset school voting. The district handles the process itself.  

An attorney with expertise in election law who lives outside the district said that the art display would be difficult to classify as electioneering under New York State law. He said a better argument could be made about the video display if it wasn't regularly played in that area of the school. Per state law, nothing that clearly could influence voters can be presented within 100 feet of the voting area, although there are some different interpretations whether that 100 feet starts at the entrance or the physical voting area. 

A representative from the school district's public relations firm, Zimmerman/Edelson, was unable to make a school official available for interview Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, the firm said it would accept e-mail questions about the issue and would determine which of them were worthy of a response. 

As expected, the school budget passed with a vote of 2,714 for and 1,966 against. In addition, the library ballot passed by a vote of 2,621 for and 1,886 against. The school board vote featured three people running for three spots. Incumbents Marc Herman and Lana Ajemian will return to their posts, and Stephanie Avidon will join the board. Avidon is a public relations professional and longtime PTA volunteer. 

If you saw any video airing at school polling places, please e-mail josh@patch.com.