Board of Elections Addresses Mail Ballot Issues for Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2024

Several thousand Erie County voters did not receive their mail ballots on time due to problems with an outside vendor. Following a court order, the Erie County Board of Elections is working to accommodate affected voters with the following options.

Anyone who requested a mail-in ballot before the Oct. 29 deadline but who has not received one can go to the Erie County Courthouse, Elections and Voter Registration Office located at 140 W Sixth Street, Room 112, for a new ballot.

Any voter who requested a mail ballot but did not return the ballot may vote a provisional ballot at their assigned polling place on Election Day instead. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Provisional ballot submissions are reviewed and verified after Election Day, and eligible voters will have their provisional ballots counted if the voter's mail ballot was not received.

Voters who have received their mail ballots can return them by mail or drop box. They must be received by the county elections office by 8 p.m., Nov. 5, to be counted. Postmark and/or shipping dates by that deadline do not count. A drop box is available at the Erie County Court House.

If a voter has received their mail ballot but wants to vote in person on Election Day, they are encouraged to bring their mail ballot to the polling site. It will be canceled so they can vote a normal ballot instead of a provisional one.

Additionally, the Board of Elections has taken the following steps:

• Extended its office hours Saturday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Sunday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Monday (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
• Set up a phone line specifically for voters with disabilities or illnesses who cannot come to the office. The number is 814-451-6011.
• Ordered an additional 25,000 paper ballots from an alternate vendor.