BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Board of Elections reports 80,988 absentee ballots have been received.
Election officials say they sent 94,110 absentee ballots to Erie County residents that requested them.
Those that have not returned them yet, have to have them postmarked no later than November, 3, 2020 and they have to be received by the BOE no later than seven days after Election Day (Tuesday, November 10, 2020).
Military and overseas voters’ ballots have 13 days after the election to arrive (Monday, November 16, 2020).
For races that are too close to call, absentee ballots will be very important. The theory, according to election officials, is that more democrats tend to vote absentee.
In the New York State 61st Senate, the Erie County Board of Elections has received approximately 15,000 absentee ballots from democrats and 5,000 from republicans for that one race. So if the race is too close to call on Election night, we will have to wait two weeks or longer to find out who won.
The Erie County Board of Elections says they will begin counting absentee ballots on November 17.
In Genesee County, 4,963 absentee ballots were requested by voters. So far, the Genesee County Board of Elections has received 3,856 back. They will begin counting absentee ballots November 10.
Orleans County has received 2,349 absentee ballots of the 2,914 requested by voters. They will also begin counting those votes on November 10.
The Niagara County Board of Elections sent out 18,911 absentee ballots and received 14,25 back so far. They will begin counting November 12.
Chautauqua County sent out 11,901 absentee ballots and received 9,545 back. Cattaraugus County received 4,165 absentee ballots back of the 5,395 they sent out to voters. Both counties will begin counting those ballots November 16.