§ 2032. Ballots for election of school district officers. 1. In common school districts the ballots for the election of district officers shall be written or printed, typed or mimeographed, or partly written and partly printed, typed or mineographed, containing the name of the person voted for and designating the office for which each is voted.

2. a. In union free school districts the board of education shall cause ballots containing the names of all candidates nominated for election to the board of education to be printed, typed or mimeographed.

b. The names of all candidates for each separate specific office shall be grouped together and at the top of each group shall be placed a description of the separate specific office for which such candidates are nominated, which description shall include at least the length of the term of office and the name of the last incumbent, if any, and in addition a direction that only one vote may be cast in each separate group. The names of the candidates for each separate specific office shall be listed in the order as determined by a drawing by lot. Such drawing shall be conducted by the clerk of the board of education and shall be held the day after the last possible date for candidates to file a petition. In the event that any candidate is not present in person or by a person designated in a written proxy to accomplish the drawing, the district clerk shall be authorized to act as proxy. In any district where a proposition has been adopted pursuant to paragraph b of section two thousand eighteen, the names of all candidates for vacancies upon the board of education shall be arranged according to lot as prescribed in this section, and a direction shall be made that as many candidates may be voted for as there are vacancies to be filled.

c. A voting square shall be provided to the left of the name of each candidate upon the ballot.

d. A single cross X mark in pen or pencil, or a single check * mark, in pen or pencil, in the voting square shall indicate a vote.

* NB There should be a check mark in this space.

e. One blank space shall be provided under the name of the last candidate for each separate specific office so that voters may vote for candidates who have not been nominated for the offices to be filled at such election and the writing in, with a pencil having black lead, by a voter, of a name in the blank space so provided, shall indicate a vote.

f. Such ballot shall have placed thereon the name of the district and instructions explaining in substance the provisions of paragraphs d and e of subdivision two of this section and subdivisions three and four of section two thousand thirty-four of this chapter.

3. All spoiled or defective ballots shall be sealed in an envelope and so endorsed by the inspectors of election. Such envelope shall be placed in the ballot box as provided in subdivision six of section two thousand thirty-three of this chapter.

4. The clerk of the district shall cause to be delivered to the inspectors of election, on the day of the meeting or election and not before, a sufficient supply of the ballots for the use of the qualified voters. Such ballots shall be prepared at the expense of the school district.

5. The ballot shall be folded by the voter so as to conceal his marking or writing thereon before the ballot is deposited in a ballot box.

6. If official ballots are not furnished as provided in subdivision two of this section, an election of members of a board of education in a union free school district shall not be declared invalid or illegal because of the use of ballots which do not conform to the requirements of subdivision two of this section, provided the intent of the voter may be ascertained from the use of such irregular or defective ballots and such use was not fraudulent and did not substantially affect the result of the meeting or election.