MORNING NEWS: County BOE Announces Reduction in Voting Districts for Upcoming Election

MAYVILLE – There’s going to be some changes for voters in Chautauqua County when they go to the polls in the November election.

Chautauqua County Board of Elections commissioners Norman Green and Brian Abram announced on Monday that there will be 20 percent fewer county election districts this fall, with a reduction from 124 to 99 total districts. Also, there are five new poll sites for the county’s 80,000 registered voters.

According to the election officials, the reason for the reduction in election districts is to reduce voter confusion when there is more than one district at a single poll site. They say they also want to take full advantage of cost savings available through new electronic voting equipment that will accommodate a significantly higher number of voters.

Voters will be notified in late July of voting district and poll site assignments as part of the election board’s annual mail check card sent to all county voters.  A second mailing will be sent in October to any households whose poll site has changed or moved to fully communicate these changes.

Among the changes:

Jamestown voters will see the most significant changes in the county as the total number of election districts were reduced from 24 to 19.  A new poll site has also been secured at the Gateway Train Station to replace two former sites.  The significant changes in the city are related to major changes in County Legislature lines and poll site host changes.

Due to how new legislative district lines were drawn, the Town of Ellicott is the only town in the county that will find an increase in election districts from nine to ten.  A new election district poll site was contracted at Girl Scout of WNY, 2661 Horton Rd. will service north Ellicott voters.  Celoron Village voters will find a new poll site and will now be voting at the Celoron Community Building.

Voters can visit www.votechautauqua.com to look up their current registration information and poll site location.  They may also call 753-4580 to contact the Board of Elections directly for questions.