BoE sees strong public response to June 23 absentee ballot option

More than 1,000 voters have requested absentee ballots for the June elections since new mail-in and electronic submission options were posted online Monday, Erie County Board of Elections officials said Wednesday, April 15.

A gubernatorial executive order issued last week opened the absentee process to anyone planning to cast a ballot Tuesday, June 23, in an effort to reduce traffic and the potential spread of Covid-19 at polling places.

June 23 is now the date for the special election in the 27th Congressional District and the presidential primary, both originally set for April 28, and there are local primaries as well.

“Although we are hoping the public health emergency will have eased by then, people are clearly concerned and responding to an option that keeps them safe and still allows them to have their say,” said Republican BoE Commissioner Ralph Mohr.

“The concern here is two-fold: to protect voters and our election workers and make sure no voter is disenfranchised by the pandemic. It’s heartening to see these kinds of numbers, and we hope that trend continues,” said Democratic Commissioner Jeremy Zellner.

Under ordinary circumstances, absentee ballots are issued only to those who will be unable to vote in person by reason of travel or physical restriction, although “no excuse” absentee voting may take effect next year as part of an overall election reform package.

In March, Mohr and Zellner added a Covid-19 option to the absentee form posted on the BoE’s website.

The public may go to www.elections.erie.gov to download forms or make an electronic request.