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What to do if you didn't request an absentee ballot

Some viewers told 2 On Your Side they were turned away from early voting because they were told they requested an absentee ballot, but they said they didn't.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tens of thousands have turned out for early voting across Western New York. 

According to the Erie County Board of Elections, more than 67,000 people have voted in the first four days of early voting. 

Chautauqua and Niagara County boards of elections have also indicated that they are seeing nearly double the turn out for early voting compared to the 2020 presidential election. 

While there is certainly enthusiasm for the election this year, there are also questions a few viewers have shared. 

Several viewers have contacted 2 On Your Side and described the following scenario:

"I stood in line for early voting, and when I got to the front of the line I was told I requested an absentee ballot and they wouldn't let me vote."

Some of those viewers also believe that they didn't actually request an absentee ballot. 

WGRZ took some of those questions and concerns to election commissioners in Chautauqua and Erie Counties. 

According to Brian Abram, the Republican election commissioner in Chautauqua Co., new state law prevents someone who requested an absentee ballot from voting with the standard ballot and machine. 

"Once you ask for an absentee ballot and it becomes an event here at the Chautauqua County board elections, or any elections in New York State, that takes you out of the being able to vote on the machine, either in early voting or in election day voting," Abram said. "If you've applied, regardless if you lost it, didn't utilize it, whatever the situation is, the law clearly states that from here on, you know, in the last year or two, whenever they put this in, you can't use the machine. You have to vote affidavit."

In Erie County, you can go on the board of elections website and check the status of your absentee ballot, or check if you did in fact request one. 

Democratic Erie County election commissioner Zellner said it's highly unlikely that an absentee ballot would be sent out without someone requesting one, and chalked any confusion up to the fact people may have simply forget they wanted one. 

"Go to our website and check on the status of their absentee ballot," Zellner said. "They can tell when they requested it, when we process it, when we mailed it to them, when we received it back."

Both Abram and Zellner said that if someone truly doesn't believe they requested an absentee ballot, they can call their local elections office and staff will look into the issue. More than likely, that person will be asked to fill out a provisional affidavit ballot so their vote counts. 

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