There’s just two weeks left before most voters head to the polls to decide key elections around the state and nation, including who will be next to fill the big seat in the White House. We said “most voters” because early voting is already underway in many states.
In New York, it begins Saturday, though election officials are already processing absentee ballots and early votes made by mail. With that in mind, polling locations and boards of elections will be working extended hours to give you the best chance to fill your ballot.
Board of Elections offices across the state are busy, with some extending hours to accomodate a steady flow of visiting voters.
“We’ve had about 600 people visit our office to vote over the counter by absentee or early vote by mail,” said Warren County Democrat Board of Elections Commissioner Beth McLaughlin. “We’ve mailed out 4,000 absentees. About half of those are back, so it’s a daily input and processing of absentees at this point.”
With so much to do to meet voters’ needs, the Warren County office is extending its hours this week.
“I believe we’re about 77% in turnout in 2020, and we’re headed to beat that pace a little I think this year,” said Republican Commissioner William VanNess.
Officials here said the driving force was a lot of older and younger first-time voters interested in the presidential race.
In a county with as much rural space as Warren County, accessibility is paramount. One polling place is 45 minutes away from the Board of Elections office, so to fill the gaps on Election Day, the county has three staffers on the road.
“Our inspectors in the small towns know their voters and their areas,” McLaughlin explained. “They’ve been very helpful, and they reach out to us with anything they need ahead of time.”
Not to mention the assurance of integrity the office strives for, with a system of checks and balances from absentee applications to the voting machines.
“Everything is in order here. Beth is a number guru. She loves her numbers,” VanNess said. “If we’re off by one, we’re going find out where it is and why it is.”
Some important dates to keep in mind. The deadline to become a registered voter and to request an absentee ballot is Saturday, Oct. 26, at which time early voting is available through Nov. 3, all leading up to Election Day on Nov. 5.
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