The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan 

Plattsburgh –  Thanks to COVID-19 and the presidential election, absentee ballot voting has been in the news. As of this morning, the Clinton County Board of Elections has received almost 4,000 absentee ballot applications. In 2016, the last presidential election year, 3,055 local voters cast absentee ballots. With voters having until October 27 to mail an application, the absentee ballots cast this year will likely be at least double that of four years ago.

New York State is not mailing ballots to every registered voter as is being done in a few states, including Vermont. People can vote at the polls on Elections Day, take advantage of early voting at the Board of Elections, or vote by absentee ballot. 

Before the pandemic, people who are ill or disabled, military members and civilians serving overseas, and people out of town on Election Day have been the primary absentee ballot users. During the pandemic, any registered voter can request an absentee ballot application by checking the “temporary illness or physical disability” block on question #1 of the application. 

Board of Elections Republican Commissioner Greg Campbell has confidence in the absentee ballot system. He stated, “We’ve had very few instances of absentee ballots not being received in the past. We’ve had a few instances with people living overseas or in another state, but there’s been very few locally.”  

The Board of Elections will mail military/overseas absentee ballots the week of September 18 and local ballots the week of September 27.  Ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3.  Greg Campbell reminded voters that they must sign and date the oath on the envelope containing their ballot.  If a voter desires to change their vote after mailing the absentee ballot, they can request a replacement ballot, not once, but twice.  The last ballot received is the one counted. The voter can also have a trusted person bring their sealed absentee ballot to the polling place.

Anyone desiring to verify that their absentee ballot has been received is invited to call the Board of Elections at 518-565-4740. Even if a voter mails an absentee ballot, they can still cast an in-person vote at their polling place on November 3. The Board of Elections cross-checks in-person ballots with absentee ballots. The in-person vote will be the only vote counted. 

Vote counting will take place after the polls close on November 3. Campbell said the Board of Elections purchased a high-speed ballot scanner and has requested extra staff. He anticipates counting the votes may still take up to two days. 

If you don’t care to cast an absentee ballot, early voting is another option. From Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1, registered voters can cast an in-person vote at the Clinton County Board of Elections located at the Clinton County Government Center, 137 Margaret St. (1st Floor Meeting Room). Hours for early in-person voting are Saturday & Sunday 9 am-2 pm. Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9 am-5 pm. Tuesday & Thursday, 9 am-8 pm. 

On Election Day, November 3, local polling places will be open from 6 am to 9 pm. for in-person voting. St. Augustine’s Parish Center at 3030 Main St. is the Town of Peru’s polling place. COVID-19 precautions will be in effect for workers and voters.  Go to the Clinton County Board of Elections website at https://www.clintoncountygov.com/boe for more information.