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Board of Elections

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1. What are the hours for voting on Election Day?

• Primary Election poll sites are open from 6 am until 9 pm
• Poll sites are only open if there is a Primary Election in your town/city. Please check our home page to see if there is a primary for your party affiliation in your voting district.
• General Election polls are open from 6 am until 9 pm

2. Can anyone vote in the General Election?

Yes, if you are registered to vote. All registered voters can vote in a General Election. Voters can vote for the candidate of their choice at a General Election. We encourage all registered voters in Steuben County to come out and vote.

3. Can I vote in a Primary Election?

It will depend on the following:

• Is the Primary being held for the party you are registered in?
• Is the Primary being held in your voting district/ward?
• If you answered yes to both questions then you can vote in that Primary.

Primaries are only held if there is a need for one. Check our home page to see if there is a primary for your party affiliation in your voting district.

4. What is a Primary Election?

A Primary Election occurs when you have more candidates running for an elected position on the same party line, than there are positions to be filled. Only when this happens is a Primary Election held. The Primary Election is only held for that party and position.

Registered voters of the party(s) having a primary get the opportunity to vote for the candidate(s) they want to represent them on the ballot in November.

Primaries are very important - but there is normally a very low turnout.

5. Where do I go to vote?

Every registered voter is assigned a specific Polling Place and District where they are to vote on Election Day. This is determined by where you live. If you are unsure where you go to vote on Election Day, you can call our office at 607-664-2260 and we will be happy to look that up for you.

Voters have the option to vote during early voting or on election day. If you are voting on Election Day you must vote at your assigned Polling Place. If voting early, voters can vote at any Early Voting Site.

6. Am I registered to vote?

If you are not sure if you are registered to vote, you can call our office at 607-664-2260 and we will be happy to check for you. View your voter status.

7. When I vote in the General Election do I have to vote for the party I am registered in?

No, the ballot you receive for the General Election includes all candidates running for office in your voting district on all party lines. You can vote for the candidate(s) of your choice on any party line of your choice.

8. How do I change my party?

You can change your party by filling out a new voter registration form and selecting the party of your choice, mail it to the Board of Elections at:
3 E Pulteney Square
Bath, NY 14810

Don't forget the stamp.

All party changes received will take effect immediate until February 14 cutoff. All party changes received February 15th through June 30th will be held. On June 30 all party enrollment changes that had been held will be changed.

Party changes are held February 15th through June 30th due to Primary Elections being held during this time.

9. I changed my party, why am I still listed as...?

If you're party change was received after the February 14th cutoff date your party change will not take effect until June 30th.

Example: You mailed a voter registration form with a party change to the Board of Elections and it was received on February 25th the party change will take effect until June 30th. You will receive a card in the mail listing your new party affiliation once it has been processed.

10. Is it important to know my voting district?

It is not required that you know your voting district but it is helpful. Some poll sites have multiple districts voting in the same poll site. If you know which district you vote in it will speed things up. If you do not know your voting district the election inspectors will look up your information.

11. My mother (or any voter) moved out of the county. Can you take her off the list?

Moved within New York State (NYS) and wants to continue to vote - If the voter has moved within NYS and has already registered with the County Board of Elections in their new county, we will receive notification to remove them from our voter registration rolls after the new county has them registered.

If they have not already registered to vote with the new county, send us a letter with the following information: voter’s name, date of birth, and the address they are registered at and their new address. The vote must sign the letter. Once we verify the information we will update their registration record that they have moved out of our county.

Moved outside of NYS - The voter can send us a signed letter explaining that they have moved out of NYS or they can print the Cancel My Voter Registration form. They can fill out the form, sign it and mail it to the Board of Elections address on the form. If sending us a letter we will need the following information: voter’s name, date of birth, the address they are registered at, and their new address. The vote must sign the letter. Once we verify the information we will update registration record as moved out of state. If they move back they will need to re-register. The voter will want to register with the new county or state they now live in if they wish to continue to vote.

12. I moved. Can I tell you my new address over the phone?

Unfortunately, NY State law requires us to have an original signature (in ink) to make any registration changes. The easiest way to change any information is to fill out a new Voter Registration Form and send it to the Board of Election. Once we receive the voter registration form we will update your information. Print out a new voter registration form (PDF).

13. I'm disabled. Where can I vote?

All poll sites are handicap accessible. If you are unable to make it to a poll site, you may vote by absentee ballot. If you have a long-term or permanent illness or disability, you can apply for a permanent absentee ballot. Download and print out an absentee ballot application (PDF).

14. I was convicted of a felony. Can I vote?

In New York, the general rule is that you can vote after incarceration for a felony conviction, or while you are on parole or probation. In these cases, your voting rights are automatically restored, but you have to re-register in order to vote. You will need to register in the county you are living in. You do not need any special documentation to register.

Voter Registration Form (PDF)

15. I recently moved to Steuben County. Does my voter registration follow me?

It depends. If you were registered to vote in New York State and you moved within New York State then, yes, your registration will follow you. It is still a good idea to fill out a new voter registration form (PDF) and send it to your new Board of Elections, so they can notify you where you go to vote and to make sure your name appears in the poll book on Election Day. If we do not know that you are now living in Steuben County you will be asked to vote by affidavit until we can verify your information.

16. Do I need to let the post office know I moved?

Yes, anytime you move you need to let the post office know that you have moved and what your new address is. Otherwise the mail we send you at your new location will be returned to us. Change your address with the United States Post Office.

When mail is returned to us from the post office, that voter is placed on the inactive list until we can verify their address. When someone is on the inactive list their name will not appear in the poll book on Election Day, if that voter comes in to vote they will be asked to vote by affidavit.

17. If I add or drop a PO Box do I need to let you know?

Yes, anytime you add a post office box or remove a post office box you need to notify the Board of Elections so we can update your mailing information. Otherwise the mail we send you will be returned to us. All you need to do is fill out a new voter registration form (PDF) and mail it to us.

18. Why does my son or daughter's name still appear in the poll book?

Many parents continue to receive mail addressed to their children even though they no longer live there. If we are not notified in writing or receive return mail from the post office letting us know that someone has moved, we cannot remove them from our records.

Every year we mail out blue postcards (they used to be yellow) to every active registered voter in Steuben County to verify that you still live at the address we have you registered at. If we do not receive the blue card back letting us know that the voter has moved we cannot update their record.

19. Why does my deceased neighbor's name still appear in the poll book?

If we cannot find an obituary or receive written notice that someone is deceased we cannot remove them from our records. If you have proof that someone is deceased, like an obituary, or a death certificate, please provide us with a copy. Once we verify that someone is deceased we will remove them from our records.

20. Do I need to show ID when I vote?

Yes, if you did not provide identification when you registered to vote.

Yes, if the information you provided did not match the states record.

If you did not provide identification when you registered to vote or the information we received did not match the states records then you will be asked to present id in order to be able to vote on the machine. If you can't provide id you will be required to vote by affidavit ballot.

It is helpful if you show ID to the election inspectors when you come in to vote it makes it easier for them to find your name in the poll book. You can also take the blue card you received in the mail in March with you to the poll site to help the inspectors locate your voting district and your name. At this time New York State (NYS) does not require voter ID to vote.

21. Why do I receive this blue card in the mail every March?

New York State (NYS) law requires that we send out address verification cards to every active voter in our county. If you no longer live at the address we have you registered at, the post office will return the card to us with either an updated address or mark the card no forwarding address on file. If the post office gives us a new address we will update our records and send you another notice. If we do not have a good address for you, or we cannot verify your address, your registration record will be made inactive and your name will not appear in the poll book.

Information you will find on the blue card:

• The name and address we have you registered at
• Your mailing address if different from your residence address
• The party you are enrolled in
• The poll site where you vote
• The district/ward you vote in
• The date(s) of the election(s)
• The hours poll sites are open for voting

22. Why did I have to vote by affidavit when I went to vote?

• We do not have a valid address for you
• The inspectors could not find your name in the poll book
• You are not a registered voter in Steuben County
• You voted at a party primary that you are not a registered member of
• An absentee ballot had already been issued to you

23. How do I vote if I go away to college?

If you go to college outside Steuben County then you can apply for an absentee ballot. Complete an absentee application. List the address that is still your legal residence (parent's house) and the address where you receive mail at college. When the ballots are available we will mail out your ballot to you, for you to vote and return to our office.

Colleges quite often hold voter registration drives to get you to register from your address at college. If you complete a new registration form and list the address where you are living while at college as your residence, you will be registered to vote from that county/state and not Steuben County. Download and print out an absentee application (PDF).

24. How do I vote if I am in the Military?

Persons serving in the military, along with their spouses and/or dependents, may register as a military voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal, state and local races that they would be otherwise entitled to vote in if they were to go to their assigned polling place based on their New York residence.

You will need to complete a federal post card application and return it to your County Board of Election. This application will register you (if you are not already registered) and will serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general elections (4 years). You must reapply every 4 years. For more information, print out your Federal Post Card Application (PDF).

25. How do I vote if I am living overseas?

United States citizens living outside of the United States, whose last U.S. residence was in New York, along with their children, may register as a special federal voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal races (President/Vice President, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives) that they would be otherwise entitled to vote in based on your New York address. To register as a new special federal voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application and return it to the County Board of Elections of your last New York State residence.

This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles (4 years). You must reapply every 4 years. For more information, print out your Federal Post Card Application (PDF).

26. Does Steuben County's Board of Election run village elections?

No, all village elections are run by the village in Steuben County.

27. Does Steuben County's Board of Election run school elections?

No, all school elections are run by the school districts. Even though some schools use our voting machines they still run their own elections.

28. Why are the results unofficial on election night?

We receive and post the results from the voting machine only, on election night. The results are unofficial until we count the absentee ballots, valid affidavit ballots, un-scanned emergency ballots, and any write-ins. Once we have the totals for all votes we will post the official election results.

29. Do absentee ballots get counted?

A change in the election law now requires all Boards of Election to canvass absentee ballots received in their office every 4 days. All absentee ballots that are to be counted, will be scanned before election day at the Board of Elections. No results can be printed until the close of polls on Election Night. Election Night results will include results from Early Voting, Election Day and Absentee ballots. Absentee ballots can still be received by the Board of Election up to 7 days after the election as long as they are postmarked no later than election day. After the 7 day deadline we open and count all valid absentee ballots received timely, any ballots that need to be counted manually, along with all valid affidavit ballots. Those results are included in the certified election result.

With this new law any Absentee voter, (including Permanent Absentee voters) who have been issued an Absentee ballot, will no longer have the ability to vote in person on the voting machine. If you wish to vote in person, either during Early Voting or on Election Day, it will be by Affidavit ballot only.

30. Where can I find election night results?

Election night results are posted on the Board of Elections page and the County's main page.

31. Where can I find past election results?

Past election results are posted on the Board of Elections page. View the Election Results page. Currently on our web page you can find election results back to 2000.

32. What do I do if I want to run for an office?

The Board highly recommends that you to come into the office and speak with a staff member. Depending on your legal residence and party affiliation (or no party affiliation) will determine the steps you must follow to run for an office. The office staff is here to help you with all of the information you need to run for office and to assure you understand the process. It is important that you get the correct information in regards to running for an office.

The process to run for an office that is up that year starts the end of February depending on your party affiliation. If you have questions about running for an office please call the office at 607-664-2260.

33. Do I have to file Campaign Finance paperwork if I run for an office?

Yes, New York State (NYS) law requires that every person who runs for an office must file campaign finance paperwork. Contact the NYS Board of Election Campaign Finance Department at 800-458-3453 or 518-474-8200 or email NYS Board of Election Campaign Finance Department.

All Campaign Finance paperwork is now filed with the NYS Board of Election.

34. How do I register for an absentee ballot to vote in my village election?

Contact your village clerk, they will be happy to give you an application for an absentee ballot.

35. How do I register for an absentee ballot to vote in my school election?

Contact the district clerk at your school, they will be happy to give you an application for an absentee ballot.

36. Do I have to file Campaign Finance paperwork if I run for a Village Office?

Yes, New York State (NYS) law requires that every person who runs for an office must file campaign finance paperwork including those who run for a village office. If you run for a village office you must file campaign finance paperwork with the village clerk, as all villages in Steuben County run their own elections.

37. How do I cancel my voter registration?

Print out the Voter Registration Cancellation form, fill it out and sign it (requires the voter's signature) and mail it to the Board of Elections (the address is on the form). 

Or you can send us a letter with the following information: voter's name, date of birth, the address they are registered at, and state that you no longer wish to be registered to vote. The voter must sign the letter. Mail the letter to the Steuben County Board of Election 3 E. Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810.