OBSERVER Staff Report
MAYVILLE - Chautauqua County Election Commissioners Norman P. Green and Brian C. Abram have announced that more than 54,000 voters will be eligible to cast ballots this Tuesday in Democratic and Republican Federal Primaries. All county poll sites will open from Noon to 9 p.m..
Election Details: All registered Chautauqua County Democrats and Republicans will be eligible to vote in this Tuesday's June 26, 2012 Federal Primary Elections. Voters may check their registration at votechautauqua.com or by calling the Board of Elections at 363-4580, 661-7580 or 753-4580.
There are 27,344 eligible county Democratic registrants who will have the opportunity to choose from three candidates to represent the party as the November candidate for the New York 23rd Congressional District. The candidates are Nate Shinagawa, a hospital administrator from Ithaca; Leslie Danks Burke, an attorney from Ithaca; and Melissa Dobson, an attorney from Owego. Current Democratic Congressman Brian Higgins of Buffalo will no longer represent Chautauqua County as of January 2013 due to congressional redistricting that occurs once every 10 years. The winner of the June Democratic primary election will face off against current Congressman Tom Reed, an attorney from Corning, whose southern tier district was re-drawn to now include Chautauqua County.
There are 26,185 eligible Republicans in the county who will join the rest of New York in deciding the GOP nominee for a November face off against incumbent Democratic United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, an attorney from the Albany area. The Republican lineup includes conservative activist Wendy Long, a New York City attorney; Bob Turner, a current member of the House of Representatives and former television executive from New York City; and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos of Long Island.
Hours to Vote? Polls are open noon to 9 p.m. Polls will open at 6 a.m. in Erie County, New York pursuant to Election Law. (Buffalo media often mistakenly states all Western New York poll sites are open, when only Erie County polls open early.)
Where to Vote? Voters may look up their poll site at votechautauqua.com or by contacting the Board of Elections for correct polling location at 363-4580, 661-7580 or 753-4580.
New Poll Sites: All town of Charlotte voters will now be voting at the Sinclairville Fire Station, 30 Main Street, Sinclairville; Jamestown east side voters in Ward 1 Districts 2, 3 and 4 will now be voting at IBEW Local 106 Hall (across from JCC Parking lot on James Ave), 322 James Ave; and all Village of Fredonia voters will be at Wheelock School, 75 Chestnut St.
Will Identification Be Needed? A voter may need identification and proof of address if they are newly registered by mail. An Election Inspector may also ask for an ID if they are unable to match or verify the voter's signature or if the voter is challenged by a poll watcher at the poll site.
Moved? A voter who has moved within the county and failed to notify the Board of Elections must go to their new polling place and fill out an affidavit ballot.
Name is not in the poll book? Provisional affidavit ballots are available for anyone who believes that they are registered to vote and are not in the poll book at the poll place assigned for the voter's current residence. Every voter has a right to vote by provisional/affidavit ballot.
Absentee ballots: Voters who will be out of town on Election Day may come to the Board of Elections, 7 North Erie Street, Mayville during normal daily election hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday to fill out an absentee ballot application and cast a ballot. They may also send an agent to pick up the ballot during these hours, if the voter's completed and signed application directs the Board of Elections to deliver the ballot to the agent.
Assistance to the Handicapped? All poll sites in Chautauqua County will have available a Dominion Imagecast handicapped assistance voting device. The Chautauqua County Board of Elections will have trained staff available to provide first time operational guidance to voters using these devices.
