State law requires school elections on the third Tuesday in April, said Richard Vespucci, a spokesman for the state Department of Education. Hopefully, the scheduling won't deter people from coming to the polls and voting. Camden's school calendar, which is distributed to families around the city, marks next Tuesday as the date for voting on the school budget. District spokesman Bart Leff said the error had stemmed from incorrect information given to the district in July, when the calendars were being printed. In addition to Camden, districts closed for the week in South Jersey include Cinnaminson, Evesham, Glassboro, Lenape Regional, Lower Camden Regional, Maple Shade, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Palmyra, Riverton, Shamong and Tabernacle.
New Jersey is one of seven states that asks for voter approval of school budgets.
In Pennsylvania and Delaware, districts set and approve the budgets. These elections are crucial to districts because if a district's budget fails to pass, the district must submit the budget to municipal officials, who have historically cut spending. Camden and Medford pushed for parents to submit absentee ballots if they knew they would be on vacation this week. All polling places will be open today between the state-mandated times of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., although some may also be open earlier.