A comprehensive tool to help voters track their absentee ballot and ensure their vote is counted has been released by the New York State Board of Elections, according to the Steuben County Board of Elections commissioners.
The new portal is integrated with the state’s existing Voter Registration and Poll Site Search tool which can be accessed online.
The tracking system will inform voters when their absentee ballot request has been received by their County Board of Elections, and whether a ballot has been sent, received, and counted. The portal will also alert voters if their absentee ballot has a curable or “non-curable” defect, meaning the ballot cannot be counted as submitted due to an error.
In the event a ballot is considered defective, the voter will receive a notice by mail informing them of the error and their options.
The County Board of Elections will also attempt to reach the voter by phone and/or email if that information has been provided to the board Democratic Commissioner Colleen Hauryski said.
Voters can request an absentee ballot for the upcoming primary and general elections at the state’s online absentee request portal or by mailing a signed absentee request form to their County Board of Elections.
Other important information on absentee ballots include:
• A voter’s application must be received by their County Board of Elections no later than June 13 to be eligible to vote by absentee in the June 28th primary election.
• Primary Election absentee ballots can be returned by mail or in person to the voter’s County Board of Elections or at any Early or Election Day poll site in their county by June 28th .
• Voters can print an absentee application for the primary elections from the state website.
• Voters planning to vote by absentee ballot will no longer have the option to vote in person on a machine if an absentee ballot has been issued.
• This new statutory change requires voters who have been issued an absentee ballot and later decide to vote in person must vote via affidavit ballot only.
• During the routine counting of votes following an election (canvassing), the voter’s County Board of Elections will determine whether the voter’s absentee ballot has already been counted.
• If the absentee ballot has been already counted, the affidavit will be set aside and not counted. If the absentee ballot has not arrived and been counted, the voter’s affidavit ballot will be counted.
The state’s tracking tool will allow voters to see whether their absentee or affidavit ballot was counted for that election. County Republican Commissioner Veronica Olin said residents can check the Steuben Board of Election website for information on any upcoming Primary Elections to be held in the county.
For more information, contact John Conklin or Jennifer Wilson at the State Board of Elections at 518- 474-1953 or by email at [email protected] or your local Board of Elections at 607-664-2260 or by email at [email protected].
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