(Excerpted from a NYS Board of Elections media release)
The United States Election Assistance Commission has proclaimed September 1st National Poll Worker Recruitment Day and the New York State Board of Elections is asking all registered voters to pitch in and Help New York Vote for the November 3rd general election.
“In New York State, 55 percent of all poll workers are over the age of 60, making them especially vulnerable to complications if they contract COVID-19,” said Peter Kosinski, Co-Chair of the State Board. “This has resulted in a critical need for poll workers who are willing and able to assist with the administration of in-person during Early Voting and on Election Day.”
As a poll worker, you will prepare the polling place for voting, set up voting equipment, sign-in and process voters, enforce social distancing, demonstrate voting procedures, sanitize voting equipment, assist voters, close the polling place, and canvass and report election results.
To be eligible, you must be a New York State registered voter. Poll workers get paid for training and each election day they work. Applying is simple. If you live outside New York City, fill out the form found here: www.elections.ny.gov/BecomePollworker.html. Or call your Delaware County Board of Elections at 607-832-5321.
NEW ABSENTEE BALLOT LAW SIGNED
Governor Cuomo recently signed legislation expanding the definition of “illness” to include those who are concerned about voting in person due to COVID19. Request an absentee ballot application or download one from a Board of Elections (BOE) site and simply check the box that includes illness (without any additional note on your part). The completed form may be returned any time now. The Delaware County BOE expects to mail out ballots by late September.