SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – With less than three weeks until Election Day, things are picking up at the Onondaga County Board of Elections Office. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many voters are choosing to vote absentee and avoid waiting in long lines at polling stations. Making it more important than ever to make sure you cast your vote correctly.
With an influx in absentee voting this year, it also means a lot of confusion. First-time New York absentee voter, Elissa Bardhi, felt overwhelmed by the entire process. Four years ago, she was able to vote in-person in a matter of minutes. Now, Bardhi must sit down and make sure she follows the steps to properly fill out her ballot, then mail it in in time for Election Day or drop it off in-person.
Onondaga County Board of Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny outlines the steps to properly cast your New York absentee ballot: “Put the ballot inside the ballot envelope. Seal it, sign it. Put it inside the return envelope. Seal it, sign it. Put one stamp on it, you only need one stamp and put it in the mail and mail it back to [Onondaga County Board of Elections].”
For those who rather not buy stamps or are worried their ballot won’t make it in time for the election, they can turn it into one of the mobile dropbox sites at the Onondaga County Board of Elections and any available polling sites. This ensures that voters can cast their vote without having to wait in line as well as on time.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or dropped off at the Onondaga County Board of Elections Office by 9 p.m. on November 3rd. Visit ongov.net for more information on voting in this year’s election.
(Track 1)
[TAKE SOT NAME:Elissa Bardhi DURATION:0’04”]
(Track 2)
That’s how first time New York absentee voter Elissa Bardhi felt trying to fill out her ballot. Overwhelmed.
{***SOT FULL***} (CG: Elissa Bardhi/ First Time NY Absentee Voter) [TAKE SOT NAME:Elissa Bardhi INCUE:I was confused OUTCUE:A little overwhelming DURATION:0’13”]
(“I was confused, there’s two envelopes and one large paper with a lot of names. So I still havent’ really figured out how to fill it out and it looks a little overwhelming.”)
(Track 2) Onondaga County Board of Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny explains the necessary steps to properly fill out an absentee ballot.
{***SOT FULL***} (CG: Dustin Czarny/ Onondaga Board of Elections Commissioner) [TAKE SOT NAME:Dustin Czarny INCUE:Put the ballot OUTCUE:Back to us DURATION:0’11”]
(“Put the ballot inside the ballot envelope. Seal it, sign it. Put it inside the return envelope. Seal it, sign it. Put one stamp on it, you only need one stamp and put it in the mail and mail it back to us.”)
(Track 3) Finished your ballot and don’t want to pay for stamps or just running late? You can turn your ballot in at one of the mobile drop box sites.
{***SOT FULL***} [TAKE SOT NAME:Dustin Czarny INCUE:The mobile droboxes OUTCUE:Wait in line DURATION:0’16”]
(“The mobile dropboxes that we’re gonna have at every polling site and election day. You can see it can be sealed and there’s a flap and we’re required by the Governor’s executive order to provide a system for people to drop off absentees without having to wait in line.”)
(Track 4)
Commissioner Czarny says the county is expecting around 120 thousand absentee ballots for this year’s election, a record breaking number.
Tara Arya, N-C-C News.
