Board of election commissioners clarify election changes to public
Chenango County Democratic Commissioner of Elections Carol Franklin and Republican Commissioner of Elections Mary Lou Monahan were the featured speakers at the Chenango Links sponsored “Election Night at the Moon” on Monday. (Grady Thompson photo)
NORWICH – Chenango County's Republican and Democratic Commissioners of Elections discussed their procedures and changes in election law while answering questions from the public at "Election Night at the Moon" on Monday.
Sponsored by Chenango Links, the event featured Chenango County Republican Commissioner of Elections Mary Lou Monahan and Democratic Commissioner of Elections Carol Franklin at the Bohemian Moon in Norwich explaining the recent changes in election laws in New York State.
Discussing the major changes, Franklin said New York State has combined its primaries to all take place in June, which she said is a cost-saving measure in New York State. Consequently, it has also resulted in a number of other changes pertaining to when candidates can circulate and file their petitions.
Monahan said, "For example it used to be that the filing of petitions would be in July, now it's the first week of April. So that's a drastic change and our weather here is not terribly conducive to that kind of going door to door, but that's what it has to be.
"Also, the caucus days have changed. Everything has been shifted up to accomodate this date in the primary, all of those dates have been hinged on that."
Another major change in election law is a nine-day early voting window, during which Monahan and Franklin will be at the Board of Elections working early voting polls for anyone who wants to take part.
"[Early voting] is something that we're preparing for but we don't know what kind of turnout to prepare for, so we have to prepare for a large turnout," said Monahan. "It's just like going into a poll site on election day except that you will be able to do it beginning October 26 and the last day is November 3."
Early voting hours are as follows: October 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; October 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 29 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; October 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 31 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; November 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and November 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Questions were raised about the security of elections and how the board of elections works to prevent voter fraud, which Monahan and Franklin said are of utmost importance at the county and state. Monahan said everyone at the county has undergone cyber security training, and the voting process is vetted at several stages with members of both major political parties present.
Franklin said the Chenango County Board of Elections is in desperate need of poll workers and inspectors for election day. Workers are paid for their time on election day and must undergo an annual training, which is paid for by the board of elections. Monahan said if enough people sign up to work polls, the board can organize split shifts to shorten the day for workers.
If you are interested in becoming a poll worker or would like more information on election laws, contact the Chenango County Board of Elections at (607) 337-1760.
Chenango Links sponsors a meeting the first Monday of every month at the Bohemian Moon. Next month's discussion on April 1 will include Andrew J. Pragacz, the author of "The Forgotten Kapital: The Klu Klux Klan in Binghamton, New York," who will discuss the history of the revived Klu Klux Klan in Broome County in the 1920s.
Sponsored by Chenango Links, the event featured Chenango County Republican Commissioner of Elections Mary Lou Monahan and Democratic Commissioner of Elections Carol Franklin at the Bohemian Moon in Norwich explaining the recent changes in election laws in New York State.
Discussing the major changes, Franklin said New York State has combined its primaries to all take place in June, which she said is a cost-saving measure in New York State. Consequently, it has also resulted in a number of other changes pertaining to when candidates can circulate and file their petitions.
Monahan said, "For example it used to be that the filing of petitions would be in July, now it's the first week of April. So that's a drastic change and our weather here is not terribly conducive to that kind of going door to door, but that's what it has to be.
"Also, the caucus days have changed. Everything has been shifted up to accomodate this date in the primary, all of those dates have been hinged on that."
Another major change in election law is a nine-day early voting window, during which Monahan and Franklin will be at the Board of Elections working early voting polls for anyone who wants to take part.
"[Early voting] is something that we're preparing for but we don't know what kind of turnout to prepare for, so we have to prepare for a large turnout," said Monahan. "It's just like going into a poll site on election day except that you will be able to do it beginning October 26 and the last day is November 3."
Early voting hours are as follows: October 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; October 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 29 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; October 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 31 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; November 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and November 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Questions were raised about the security of elections and how the board of elections works to prevent voter fraud, which Monahan and Franklin said are of utmost importance at the county and state. Monahan said everyone at the county has undergone cyber security training, and the voting process is vetted at several stages with members of both major political parties present.
Franklin said the Chenango County Board of Elections is in desperate need of poll workers and inspectors for election day. Workers are paid for their time on election day and must undergo an annual training, which is paid for by the board of elections. Monahan said if enough people sign up to work polls, the board can organize split shifts to shorten the day for workers.
If you are interested in becoming a poll worker or would like more information on election laws, contact the Chenango County Board of Elections at (607) 337-1760.
Chenango Links sponsors a meeting the first Monday of every month at the Bohemian Moon. Next month's discussion on April 1 will include Andrew J. Pragacz, the author of "The Forgotten Kapital: The Klu Klux Klan in Binghamton, New York," who will discuss the history of the revived Klu Klux Klan in Broome County in the 1920s.
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