New York state orders new school election after Long Island clerk accused of trashing ballots to help her candidate win

nypost.com

New York State overturned the results of a Long Island school district’s board of education elections on Thursday after an internal probe accused the clerk in charge of overseeing the vote of trashing ballots to help a local DJ win reelection.

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa ordered a new race to take place within 60 days just hours after a Hempstead Union Free School District petition surface that claimed District Clerk April Keys tore up ballots and smuggled them out of her office to help re-elect former school board President Victor Prett, a local DJ who goes by the name DJ Vic-Lover.

“The Board appreciates the Commissioner’s expeditious review of this matter, which enables the District to move forward with the revote in accordance with the Commissioner’s ruling,” the district said in a statement to The Post.

Screengrab of Victor Pratt in a blue shirt, jeans, and bucket hat, walking with a box in hand.

New York state has officially tossed the results of the Hempstead School District’s allegedly stolen election — and ordered a new race to take place within 60 days. New York State Department of Education

Hempstead Union Free School District clerk April Keys smiling.

District Clerk April Keys allegedly smuggled official ballots out of her office and trashed them to help her candidate win. Village of Hempstead

Victor Pratt presiding over the Hempstead School Board meeting.

Local DJ incumbent, Victor Prett (above), also helped Keys and a custodian carrying out destruction of the ballots. Jeff Bachner/Newsday

The state also appointed a temporary clerk to oversee the new vote — Neil Boyd, who is serving as superintendent for the Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES.

Hempstead’s attorneys had asked for an annulment of the May 19 election in a petition that was submitted June 15 but only emerged Thursday.

District spokesperson Ron Edelson said no date had been set for a new election.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s office said it was investigating after receiving the school district’s findings.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.