(09/14/2023)
Chautauqua County Board of Elections in need of Poll Workers
MAYVILLE, NY – The Chautauqua County Board of Elections is need of poll workers for the upcoming November 7, 2023 General Election.
Poll workers, which consist of our friends and neighbors, play a critical role in our democracy and having an adequate number of staff at the poll site on Election Day ensures voters receive the assistance they need.
As a poll worker, you would prepare the polling site for voting, help setup the voting equipment, sign-in and process voters, demonstrate voting procedures and help close the polling place.
Anyone registered in the two major parties can sign-up to be a poll worker. Poll workers are paid $25.00 for their training and $14.20 an hour while working the polls.
“We have added additional Poll Site training dates for the people who missed the opportunity to attend a session earlier this summer. Hopefully, anyone who wants to help us provide voting services to our County residents will take this opportunity to be trained,” stated Commissioners Luz Torres and Brian Abram.
The first training is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at the SUNY JCC North Training Center on Route 60 in Dunkirk from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A second, additional training, will be held at the Carnahan Theatre on the SUNY JCC Main Campus, 525 Falconer St. in Jamestown on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The final training happens on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Carlson Community Center, 50 West Lake Rd. in Mayville from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Each trainee is asked to bring their Driver’s License, or another legal form of identification, Social Security Card and voided check so the Board of Elections can issue a direct deposit payment.
No reservations are needed for any session, so please pick a date and time that fits your schedule.
Those with questions are urged to please contact the Chautauqua County Board of Elections Office at (716) 753-4580 and/or visit chqgov.com/board-of-elections/Board-of-Elections.
(08/31/2023)
Board of Elections Warns Of Door-to-Door Scam
MAYVILLE, NY – The Chautauqua County Board of Elections is warning residents about a new door-to-door scam where fraudsters are impersonating Board of Elections staff.
Statewide this week, the New York State Board of Elections received complaints that fake staff members were found knocking on doors, confronting voters regarding their registration status, and erroneously accusing voters of committing a crime because of how they appear in the state voter database.
This is alarming to election officials across the state, including in Chautauqua County, and appears to be a coordinated, consistent pattern of activity.
In a joint statement, Commissioners Luz Torres and Brian Abram stated, “we have been notified that this is happening in our county, you can rest assured, the Chautauqua County Board of Elections employees would never come to your home and challenge your voting rights.”
If you are approached by a person claiming to be Board of Elections staff, immediately ask to see their identification. If that person refuses, or is otherwise suspicious, the Board of Elections is asking voters to collect as much information as possible without providing any of your personal information. Once the person leaves, contact the local law enforcement.
Criminal impersonation is a class A misdemeanor in New York State. Elections officials are working closely to track and monitor any additional complaints that are received.
(06/14/2023)
Early Voting For The June Primary Election Begins Saturday
MAYVILLE, NY – The Chautauqua County Board of Elections is reminding voters who have a Primary Election in 2023 that Early Voting begins on Saturday, June 17.
“We have a small set of Primaries this year,” notes Commissioner Brian C. Abram. “There are no Countywide Primary Elections in 2023, most voters will NOT have a Primary Election this year.”
Voters with the following Political Party affiliations in the respective towns will have a Primary Election in 2023: Republicans in Arkwright, the Town of Dunkirk, Mina, North Harmony & Ripley; Conservatives in Ripley and Working Families in the City of Dunkirk. Any other town not listed or voters not affiliated with the above political parties in each town will not have a Primary Election to vote in.
“In order to vote in a Primary in New York State, voters must be registered in the Political Party having a Primary,” Commissioner Luz E. Torres stated, highlighting that New York State has a Closed Primary System. “Voters who changed their political party on or after February 15, 2023 will have their party choice put into a pending status and will be changed on July 5, when the ability to changes one’s political party affiliation resumes. Voters who did not submit their change of enrollment by February 14, 2023 to a party holding a Primary will not be eligible to vote in this year’s Primary Elections.”
“Everyone votes in November regardless of their political party affiliation,” Commissioner Abram added.
Early Voting for the June 27, 2023 Primary Election will be held at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg./Ag & Expo Center, located at 1089 Central Ave in the City of Dunkirk. Hours for Saturdays & Sundays will be 9AM to 5PM, Monday & Tuesday Noon to 8PM and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10AM to 6PM. Early Voting will run daily from Saturday, June 17 to Sunday, June 25.
The other three early voting sites designated for the November 7, 2023 General Election WILL NOT be open during the June Early Voting period.
Poll Sites on Election Day, June 27, will be open from 6AM to 9PM. With the exception of the Working Families members in the City of Dunkirk, voters for the Primary Election should visit their normal poll site. All members of the Working Families parties in the City of Dunkirk will vote at St. John’s ICC, 728 Eagle St. in the City of Dunkirk FOR THIS PRIMARY ELECTION ONLY.
The Commissioners would like to jointly remind voters that even though they are hearing news regarding the 2024 Presidential Elections, the Elections (including this Primary) being held this year are NOT for the Office of President.
