Guest Editorial by Patty MacLeish

Voting—Casting a Ballot Keeps Getting Easier

Election Day—November 5—is only a month away. Have you made your plan to vote? The first step, of course, is getting registered to vote, and the next step is to learn as much as you can about the candidates. Finally, you need to choose how you are going to cast your ballot because, beginning this year, there will be four different ways registered voters may do so—two ways to vote in person and two ways to vote by mail.

Many people like the tradition of voting in person on Election Day at their regular polling place. Others know that between employment schedules, childcare, work commute or family responsibilities, getting to the polls on Election Day may be difficult; early in-person voting may be the answer for those voters.

In Otsego County, people can vote early in person from Saturday, October 26 through Sunday, November 3 at the County Board of Elections at the Meadows Office Complex in Cooperstown or at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta. Hours are: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.

There are also two ways a person may vote by mail. Voters may use an absentee ballot or—new this year—all voters are eligible to vote early by mail.

Registered voters in Otsego County may vote absentee if they meet one of these qualifications:

• Absent from your county on Election Day
• Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability
• Unable to appear because you are the primary caregiver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled
• A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital
• In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.

New this year is “Early Voting by Mail.” All registered voters qualify for early voting by mail. Voters do not need a reason to vote by mail.

Whichever way you choose to vote by mail, your first step is to apply to receive a ballot. Applications are available at https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot. Obtain an application as soon as possible and return it to the Board of Elections. Once you receive your ballot, follow the directions and cast your vote in sufficient time so that it will be received by the deadline to be counted. Some special cases do apply:

Military Voting: Persons serving in the military, along with their spouses and/or dependents, may vote in federal, state and local races. To register as a new military voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application (https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/05/federal-post-card-application-2023.pdf) and return it the Otsego County Board of Elections.

Voters with Disabilities and Special Needs: New York has worked to make registering and voting accessible to all. Complete information on ballot accessibility may be found at https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot.

The League of Women Voters in New York State has worked to make registering and voting easier and convenient. Now it’s up to you. With early voting and early voting by mail, it’s easy for you to join your fellow citizens and cast your vote. The best way to assure you do vote is to make a plan to vote. The League has even prepared a handy reminder to do just that. Check it out today at LWVCooperstownArea.org.

Be a voter!

Patty MacLeish is communications director for the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area.