The Board of Elections in Monroe County is gearing up for primary day.
Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner Jackie Ortiz says the team here has worked for months preparing for the 2022 elections.
“So we've already sent out information to all of our voters,” said Ortiz. “Everyone should have received something that essentially looks like this.”
An information card sent to voters includes polling location, dates and other important details.
“Well, we're always busy, but I would say that we are very prepared this year,” said Republican Board of Elections Commissioner Lisa Nicolay.
Nicolay says while many New York counties will contend with two or even three primary votes, that won’t be the case here.
"We did have a little bit of lady luck on our side where we do not have an August primary,” said Nicolay. “So there are some counties in New York that have the June primary, an August primary and a special election in August for some congressional people that have resigned…so it's a little bit more of a traditional year for us and we're very grateful for that."
As for expectations for voter turnout?
"Unfortunately, I think they're going to be kind of low,” said Nicolay. “You know about a third of people who are registered or not registered in a party, so they don't have the opportunity to vote in a Republican or Democratic primary. So you're already taking a third of registered voters out of the mix."
Here are the days you can go to the polls in Monroe County: early voting begins next Saturday, June 18 and runs through June 26.
The primary election takes place on Tuesday, June 28, and the general election Tuesday, Nov. 8.
And there are some changes for this year's primary, including some involving the absentee ballot.
"The law has changed, that anyone who is applying for an absentee can no longer change their mind, if you will, and go to a polling site and vote directly on the machine,” said Ortiz. “They will be allowed to vote if they change their mind but it will only be by affidavit...so it is very important that if you think that you might want to actually vote in person, I would not apply for an absentee at this point."
Another change: the process for the opening of absentee ballots.
"In the past we had a week or two weeks out where we would have kind of opening absentee day,” said Ortiz. “That no longer will occur and the law has changed. Where we have already begun canvassing absentee ballots, and they will be counted beginning the day before early voting, and those results will actually be uploaded on election night at the same time that the election day and early voting results will be provided to the public."
"The results of those ballots are not going to be available to anyone until election night,” said Nicolay. “So yes, you should know more definitive winner or loser on election night, it just might be a little later in the evening."
A Monroe County Board of Elections ready for the voting public.
“I feel very prepared,” said Nicolay. “I think it's going to be pretty smooth.”