Cayuga County voters will have a new place to cast their ballots for the November election.
Board of Elections Commissioners Keith Batman and John Camardo told Finger Lakes News Radio that the board has finalized a plan for a polling location at the Fingerlakes Mall.
Located in the mall’s community room (the former Jo-Ann Fabrics store), the polling place will be a ballot-on-demand site, meaning any Cayuga County voter can cast their ballot there. Through ballot-on-demand, a voter will receive the ballot that corresponds with their election district.
“To use an example, we have two congressional districts and three assembly districts,” said Batman. “Say you live in Sennet and you go to the Fingerlakes Mall; they will produce a ballot for you for Sennett so you’ll have a ballot for the northern part of the county’s congressional district [and] for the [126th] assembly district.”
Due to the presidential race, a large turnout is expected for the November 5 general election. By adding this new site that can be used by any voter in the county, Batman and Camardo hope to reduce lines at other sites while increasing access for voters.
“The accessibility to the mall where the location is is very good,” said Camardo.” The parking is very close to the entranceway so I think it’s going to work out for everybody very well.”
Both men believe the site could also help increase voter turnout. Those shopping or working at the mall will now have an easily accessible polling site and the stores could entice those who may otherwise stay home to go out and vote.
With this being the first year a countywide polling place for the general election is being offered, the commissioners said they are treating it as a test to see what changes could be made in the future.
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