Erie County BoE to provide no-excuse absentee ballots
In advance of a potential COVID-19 threat, the Erie County Board of Elections will make it possible for all voters in the Tuesday, April 28 presidential primary and/or the 27th Congressional District special election to cast an absentee ballot.
Voters who might otherwise be reluctant to report to polling places amidst worries of a pandemic will be able to request, receive, and submit an absentee ballot by mail for the primary and special election. Voters only have to check a new box added to the ballot request form indicating a public health emergency as the reason for their request.
Current restrictions will be moot next year in any event, as “no excuse” absentee voting will be implemented state-wide in 2021 if it passes a public referendum.
“As of today, there are no known cases of the coronavirus in Erie County, but should that change we want to answer the voting public’s obvious concerns,” said Republican Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr. “We want to reduce the chances for transmission while making sure people aren’t disenfranchised because of fears of infection. Under the Governor’s state of emergency and existing state election law, we have the means and justification to take this action.”
“This is not about panic, this is about prudence and preparation,” said Democratic Commissioner Jeremy J. Zellner. “The coronavirus presents serious challenges on almost every level of public life, but we have the professionals and systems in place to meet those challenges at the Board of Elections. Our responsibility is to protect the integrity of our local elections, and this change in absentee policy does that while protecting the public as well.”
Under New York State election §8-400, voters can choose illness as legitimate reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Mohr and Zellner say that under the current state of emergency, that definition can and should fit the current situation.
Voters may download the new absentee ballot request form at elections.erie.gov.