Primary, State Senate election June 23
By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the prospect of waiting in line at your polling place to bubble in your choice of candidate with a pen that’s been passed around by scores of other voters does not seem very socially distant. Thanks to an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, all New Yorkers will be able to cast absentee ballots in elections held June 23. Voters can cite “temporary illness” as their reason for requesting an absentee ballot during the COVID-19 crisis.
While most counties require voters to apply for absentee ballots by mail, Onondaga County residents can apply by email. (See sidebar for info.)
“It will help them be able to cast a ballot safely even if they’re unsure what they want to do. They can have a ballot mailed to them and still choose to vote in person,” said Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny. “People won’t have to choose between their health and exercising their democratic right.”
Apply for an absentee ballot
Onondaga County voters can visit onvote.net to download an absentee ballot application for the June 23 presidential and congressional primaries and special election for NYS Senate District 50.
Choose “temporary illness” as the reason to receive an absentee ballot. Return your application by email to [email protected] or by mail to the Onondaga County Board of Elections, 1000 Erie Blvd W. Syracuse, NY 13204. Applications must be postmarked by June 16.
This round of absentee applications is only valid for the June 23 Democratic presidential and congressional primaries and the New York State Senate 50th District’s special election to fill the seat vacated by Bob Antonacci. John Mannion, a Democrat from Geddes, faces off with Republican Angi Renna of Manlius for the State Senate seat. For the 24th Congressional District, Dana Balter and Francis Conole are running for the Democratic line.
Absentee ballots are just as secure as the ones filled out in person, Czarny said.
“The voter fills out the ballot and puts it in an oath envelope. You have to sign it saying you are the person,” he said.
A bipartisan team of election workers opens and reviews absentee ballots seven to 14 days after an election, comparing the signatures on the oath envelope to the one on file for each registered voter.
“It’s the same as voting in person — your signature is still your verification,” Czarny said.
While the governor’s dispensation for absentee ballots in the time of coronavirus is just for elections taking place June 23, Czarny said it could pave the way for expanded absentee voting.
“I have been an advocate since before the governor’s order for the legislature to act and codify this so it can be the case for the November election as well,” Czarny said.
Czarny said the Onondaga County BOE has not yet received guidance from the state as to when elections originally scheduled for March 18 in the villages of Baldwinsville, Fayetteville and Minoa will take place. He said New York state has not rescheduled village elections scheduled to take place June 16, such as in the village of Liverpool.
“The ones that were scheduled for March 18 are still up in the air. The ones that were scheduled for June 16 are still on as far as we know,” Czarny said.
The state has yet to set a date for school board and budget elections, which originally were to take place May 18. Each school district manages its own election, but districts often borrow voting machines from their local board of elections.
“If they hold the elections in June, a lot of school districts won’t be able to to use our machines,” Czarny said.
The Onondaga County BOE is recommending that school board elections be held in July.
“I think that would be the best to do that, to get out of the presidential primary [cycle],” Czarny said.
