Early voting

The Chautauqua County Board of Elections Commissioner Brian Abram said there are a small set of primaries this year, with most voters not having a primary election to vote in, “We do not have any Democratic primaries throughout Chautauqua County in any way shape or form. We have a Republican, a Conservative, and Working Families primary races. Again, we would love that people would visit our website and they can also look at the ballot.”

The towns of Arkwight, Dunkirk,  Mina, and Ripley all have a Republican primary. The City of Dunkirk has a Working Families primary. And the town of Ripley has a Conservative primary.

Commissioner Luz Torres added that, “In order to vote in a Primary in New York State, voters must be registered in the Political Party having a Primary. Voters who changed their political party on or after February 15, 2023 will have their party choice put into a pending status and will be changed on July 5, when the ability to changes one’s political party affiliation resumes. Voters who did not submit their change of enrollment by February 14, 2023 to a party holding a Primary will not be eligible to vote in this year’s Primary Elections.”

Early Voting for the June 27 Primary Election will be held at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in the City of Dunkirk.

Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; Monday and Tuesday from noon to 8:00 p.m.; and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Early Voting will run daily from Saturday, June 17 to Sunday, June 25.

The other three early voting sites designated for the November 7, 2023 General Election will not be open during the June Early Voting period.

Poll Sites on Primary Election Day, June 27, will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

With the exception of the Working Families members in the City of Dunkirk, voters for the Primary Election should visit their normal poll site. All members of the Working Families party in the City of Dunkirk will vote at St. John’s ICC, 728 Eagle Street for this Primary Election only.

The Commissioners reminded voters that even though they are hearing news regarding the 2024 Presidential Elections, the Elections being held this year are NOT for the Office of President.

For more information, visit votechautauqua.com

Chautauqua County Board of Elections Commissioners Luz Torres and Brian Abram said 7,064 voters took part in early voting during the nine-day span. This is the second highest early voting turnout in Chautauqua County since early voting started in 2019.

In 2019, 3,827 participated in early voting. In 2020, which was a Presidential election year, 14,279 early voted. And in 2021, 3,276 early voted.

They said over 2,200 absentee ballots have been returned and opened by the Board of Elections as well.
Any voter who still have their Absentee Ballot can either place it in the mail by Election Day, November 8, 2022; or it can be dropped off at any Election Day poll site during voting hours on Tuesday.

Any individual who has already cast a ballot during early voting or returned their Absentee Ballot will be required to vote via a Provisional Affidavit Ballot. Additionally, anyone who has requested an Absentee Ballot but not yet returned it must vote via a Provisional Affidavit Ballot.

Early voting

Chautauqua County Board of Elections Commissioners Luz Torres and Brian Abram announced there will be four poll sites open for early voting.

These sites include the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds, the Chautauqua Mall, the Robert H. Jackson Center and the Board of Elections office.

Each location will have signage that will indicate the entrances to the poll site. All registered voters in Chautauqua County are able to visit any one of these four early voting poll sites to cast their ballot early.

All four sites will be open the same hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m., Monday and Tuesday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Early voting runs for nine days from Saturday, October 29 through Sunday, November 6. Early voting is not available on Monday, November 7.

All Early Voting sites are handicap accessible and do have a Ballot Marking Device for voters with disabilities.

Voters who cast their ballot early will not be able to cast a ballot during subsequent Early Voting days or on Election Day.

If you request an Absentee Ballot, recent law changes will prevent you from casting your ballot using the voting machine during Early Voting or on Election Day.

If you come to the poll site and want to vote, you will only be able to vote a Provisional Affidavit Ballot, which can be counted if you have not already returned your Absentee Ballot.

Visit votechautauqua.com to view sample ballots and learn more information about election day.

Chautauqua County Board of Elections Commissioners Brian Abram and Luz Torres explain how voting will work for a special election and primary for the 23rd Congressional District.

Early voting

Chautauqua County Board of Election Commissioners Luz Torres and Brian Abram said all registered Democratic and Republican voters are eligible to vote in the primary. Democrats will vote for who will run Governor and Lieutenant

Governor on that line while the Republicans will decide on Governor candidates only. There are no local primary races in the county.

All four of the Early Voting sites in the County will be open from Saturday June 18 thru Sunday June 26.

Voters can choose to cast their ballot early at:
• Board of Elections Offices in the Hall R. Clothier Building in Mayville
• Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk
• Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown
• Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood

Early voting sites are open Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday and Tuesday noon to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Any voter who casts their ballot early cannot cast another ballot on subsequent early voting days or on Election Day.

Also new this year, voters who request an Absentee Ballot will no longer be able to vote on the voting machines on Election Day.

Commissioner Torres said, “All Boards of Elections will be counting their Absentees before Election Day to provide the most accurate numbers on Election Night. Therefore, voters who request an Absentee Ballot; whether they vote it or not, will not be able to scan their ballot on the voting machine. Instead, voters who show up at the poll site can still vote a Provisional Affidavit Ballot. If their Absentee was not returned, then their Affidavit Ballot would count.”

For more information, call (716) 753-4580 or email, vote@chqgov.com. Visit www.votechautauqua.com to review absentee ballot options, download voter registration forms, and poll site locations.

Commissioner Brian Abram says voter registration forms must be physically received at the Board of Elections’ office by 5pm, Monday, February 14. He said , “As the Board of Elections prepares for petitioning and the primary period, election law states that we have to prevent individuals from changing their party affiliation between February 15 and seven days following the Primary (July 5 this year).”

Abram added that changes submitted through the Department of Motor Vehicles must be made by Friday, February 11 in order for the DMV to transmit the data to the Board of Elections in time.

Commissioner Luz Torres said, “Election Law makes it clear that if we do not physically have possession of your enrollment change by February 14, your change will not take effect until after the June Primary. Without the party change form, individuals wishing to cast a ballot in this year’s Primary may be unable to do so. You must be registered and affiliated with the political party who’s Primary you wish to vote in.”

The Board of Elections is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily; and will remain open until 5 p.m. on Monday, February 14 to meet statutory requirements for the last day to receive political party changes.
Voter Registration Forms are available online at votechautauqua.com and at any local municipal office, library, post office or at the Board of Elections.

Chautauqua County Board of Election Commissioners Luz Torres and Brian Abram are asking all registered voters for help during the June 28th Primary Election and November 8th General Election.

They said there are 49 poll sites in Chautauqua County with more than 400 poll workers hired each election.

Poll Workers are responsible for checking in voters, assisting with questions and overseeing the casting of ballots for each election. They are trained annually and it is a paid position. To be eligible, you must be a Chautauqua County registered voter. Torres said the County always needs Spanish Interpreters.

People who are interested can contact the Chautauqua County Board of Elections by calling (716) 753-4580 or emailing vote@chqgov.com

The Coalition for Open Government had criticized the Board of Election for failing to answer Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests. Before the FOIL was filed, the coalition contacted Board of Elections across the state asking four questions, including when do Commissioners hold meetings, is the public notified about the meetings, are agendas posted online, and are minutes kept and posted online.

Chautauqua County did not respond to the initial phone contact and failed to respond to two FOIL requests.

Chautauqua County Board of Election Commissioners Brian Abram and Luz Torres jointly stated the following:

“We respect the work of the New York Coalition for Open Government in advocating the right of citizens to access information from public institutions. Due to an oversight in Chautauqua County’s FOIL review process, the Coalition’s FOIL request to the BOE made via email last summer did not receive a response.
Until the Coalition’s Report was released earlier this week, the BOE was unaware of the oversight and will be sending the Coalition a response as soon as possible. The BOE frequently receives FOIL requests from the public, and we routinely reply to them in a timely manner. We regret the unintended oversight that occurred in this case.”

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail, email or portal is now October 18th.

Absentee Ballot Applications can be submitted by mailing a paper absentee ballot application to the Board of Elections in Mayville, in person at the Board of Elections, emailing vote@chqgov.com, submitting an application online at absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov, or faxing applications or letters to (716) 753-4111.

Commissioner Luz Torres said that absentee voters may still appear in person or by proxy at the Board of Elections until November 1st, the day before the Election.

Absentee Ballots are available to any eligible voter who attests to one of the reasons on the Application. Those who wish to receive an Absentee Ballot due to the COVID-19 Worldwide Pandemic would choose the reason “Temporary Illness or Physical Disability.”

Commissioner Brian Abram said there is a proposal on the ballot this year to allow voters to request an absentee without a reason.

County Board of Election Commissioners Luz Torres and Brian Abram said voters can obtain a Voter Registration form by calling (716) 753-4580, downloading a form from votechautauqua.com, or picking up a form at any local town/village/city office, library or post office.

Voters who have a New York State Driver’s License can register online via the NYS DMV Portal. A link to this portal is available at votechautauqua.com.

Abram said voters who are registered but have not updated their address should do so by October 13th. Voters who do not update their address will be required to vote via a Provisional Affidavit ballot, which will be canvassed after the election by the Board of Elections.