achines go out to Chenango County’s poll sites today, tomorrow and through Monday in preparation for the elections next Tuesday.
Board of Elections commissioners Harriet Jenkins and Carol Franklin say they are both well prepared and very thankful to have missed the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. Jenkins said voting may take place in tents in some areas of New York City and Nassau County, and Franklin said she anticipated a low voter turnout from the hardest-hit areas up and down the Eastern Seaboard.
“We are so thankful that we have nothing to worry about here,” said Jenkins.
“I think this whole weather things is going to have a big impact. If I were in the situation these people are in, voting would be the last thing on my mind,” said Franklin.
The county BOE office is open tonight until 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon for anyone who needs an absentee ballot. Sample ballots can be found on the BOE elections website at www.co.chenango.ny.us/elections. Tuesday’s elections results may also be monitored on the office’s website, most likely beginning at 9:30 that evening with results coming in first from the city and town of Norwich, and, traditionally, ending with votes from Lincklaen.
Jenkins anticipates a large number of write-in candidates to count for local, state and national seats. Those results could take through the following week to deliver. Michael Kicinski of Earlville continues his campaign for Congress for New York District 22 as an independent write-in candidate against the incumbent Congressman Richard Hanna, a Republican, and Democrat candidate Dan Lamb.
Local races include: Chenango County court judge; a three-way run for supervisor in the town of Smyrna; and for council seats in Afton, Norwich and Smithville. State Supreme Court Judge Kevin Dowd is running unopposed.
“We hold our breath that no inspectors bail out on us at that last minute, but, hopefully, we are ready to go,” said Jenkins.