Onondaga County’s Election Commissioners say they were thrilled to be caught off guard yesterday when droves of people turned up for a third day of early voting. Republican Election Commissioner Michelle Sardo jokes how this year’s turnout is already unlike any other.
“We didn’t expect it to be as busy because it is a weekday. We figured it would slow down just a little. But we may not have anybody show up on Election Day the way that they’re voting.”
Democrat County Commissioner Dustin Czarny adds the early voting numbers have already surpassed last year’s turnout.
“It’s an overwhelming response. We expected a large increase from 2019, but we broke the 2019 totals in the middle of day two of early voting.”
Even with the ongoing pandemic, people have continued to vote in person. Sardo says inspectors who are responsible for implementing COVID safety guidelines have reported voters are respecting each other’s space.
“We have inspectors making sure people are six feet apart," said Sardo. "But the inspectors said they didn’t have to worry about it because voters have been following protocol.”
Six early voting locations will be open through Sunday. An Onondaga county resident can vote at any of the six sites. Czarny says the towns of Camillus, Clay, and Dewitt have seen the longest lines so far.
As of this evening the stat totals for Onondaga County are:
— Onondaga County BOE (@OCBOE) October 26, 2020
EV Ballots Cast by Site Today (total)
Camillus Fire 1384 (3448)
Clay Town 1475 (3391)
Dewitt Town 1166 (2923)
Armond Magnarelli 941 (2428)
Lafayette Fire #1 1064 (2425)
Syracuse Community Connections 685 (1946)
“So if you have the ability to go to another site, if you want to drive into the city and go to Armond Magnarelli or Southwest Community Center," said Czarny. "Or go right off 81 into the Lafayette fire station. These are sites that are seeing less activity, and you may have less wait times.”
Tuesday is the last day that voters can apply for an absentee ballot in a variety of ways: via email, US mail postmarked by October 27th or via fax. Visit ongov.net/elections to find the application. After that, voters can still get an absentee ballot by visiting the Onondaga County Board of Elections office and submit it in person. They can also be submitted at early voting poll sites by this Sunday or by 9pm on November 3rd.
Additionally, Early voting hours have been extended for this Saturday and Sunday. All six Onondaga County early voting sites will be open 8am to 3pm.
Onondaga County Early Voting Polling Hours
- Sunday, October 25, 2020: 10:00AM – 3:00PM
- Monday, October 26, 2020: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
- Tuesday, October 27, 2020: 12:00PM – 8:00PM
- Wednesday, October 28, 2020: 12:00PM – 8:00PM
- Thursday, October 29, 2020: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
- Friday, October 30, 2020: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
- Saturday, October 31, 2020: 8:00AM – 3:00PM
- Sunday, November 1, 2020: 8:00AM – 3:00PM
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
- CAMILLUS FIRE STATION (Rear Entrance)
5801 Newport Rd, Camillus NY 13031 - CLAY TOWN HALL COURTROOM (Rear Entrance)
4401 Route 31, Clay NY 13041 - DEWITT TOWN HALL COURTROOM
5400 Butternut Drive, E. Syracuse NY 13057 - LAFAYETTE FIRE STATION #1 (Rear Entrance)
2444 Route 11 South, LaFayette NY 13084 - ARMOND MAGNARELLI COMMUNITY CENTER AT MCCHESNEY PARK
2300 Grant Blvd, Syracuse NY 13208 - SYRACUSE COMMUNITY CONNECTION (SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER)
401-425 South Ave, Syracuse NY 13204
