MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County will have more than 78,000 voters eligible to cast a ballot when the 2012 election takes place just two weeks from today. According to a media release sent out late last week by the Chautauqua County Board of Election, a total of 78,167 voters were registered prior to the deadline last week.
Of the registered voters throughout the county, 27,204 are Democrats, 26,119 are Republicans and 24,844 voters are declaring no political party or minor party affiliation. Of the nearly 80,000 voters, the Board of Elections expects about a 70 percent voter turn out for the presidential year election.
For comparison, the 2008 presidential cycle saw 82,150 registered voters. In 2008, Barack Obama carried the vote in Chautauqua County with 60,087 voters turning out and the Obama ticket garnering 29,129 votes. The election saw a 73 percent voter turn out.
County election commissioner Brian Abram says the majority of voters have not voted since 2008, and will find that the county now votes using a paper ballot and optical scan ballot technology for vote tabulations.
Voters who will not be in the county on Election Day or who are physically unable to go the polls are entitled to vote by absentee ballot. Applications are available at www.votechautauqua.com and voters can also look up their personal voting status and poll site location by using the voter look up module available at the site or by calling 753-4580.
Voters must postmark applications for absentee voting no later than Oct. 30 or may come to the office in person until 5 p.m. on Nov. 5.
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