Local Elections Basics #5: What to expect when you vote

Published on October 27, 2026

Early voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Any registered Tompkins County voter may use either of two fully accessible early-voting sites:

• Tompkins County Veterans Services, 111 N. Albany St., Ithaca
• Crash Fire Rescue Building, 72 Brown Road, near the airport

Both sites are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 24-26, Oct. 28, and Oct. 30-Nov. 1, with evening hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 27 and Oct. 29. Dedicated parking for voters is available at each site.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, assigned poll sites are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Confirm your Election Day poll site before leaving home because Election Day assignments may differ from early-voting locations. Anyone in line by 9 p.m. may vote.

At the poll site, bipartisan election inspectors check voters in and provide a paper ballot. Voters mark the ballot privately, may review it, and then insert it into the scanner. Accessible ballot-marking devices and assistance are available. If a scanner is temporarily unavailable, standard procedures allow voters to place ballots in a secured emergency ballot slot for later scanning; the paper ballot preserves the vote.

If Board of Elections records show that a voter has already been issued an early-mail or absentee ballot, the voter may still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot is kept separate while election officials determine whether the voter’s mail ballot was received. Only the eligible ballot is counted.

These procedures, along with electronic poll-book records and a statewide review of voting records, help ensure that each eligible voter has only one ballot counted. Voters can check their registration, poll site and mail-ballot status through the official New York State Voter Lookup at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.

Election officials and public-safety partners will monitor conditions throughout voting. Use the County website and official County channels for confirmed updates. If you encounter a problem at a poll site, first ask the poll workers or call the Board of Elections. Call 911 for an immediate threat or emergency.

Your action this week

• Confirm your early-voting site or assigned Election Day poll site before leaving home.
• Bring a voting plan, allow time to review your paper ballot, and ask an election inspector if you need assistance.
• Return an early-mail or absentee ballot promptly and follow all instructions on the security envelope.

Important dates

• Through Nov. 1: Early voting at either of the two Tompkins County locations; check the official daily hours. Dedicated parking for voters is available at each site.
• Nov. 2: Last day to apply in person for an early-mail or absentee ballot at the Board of Elections.
• Nov. 3: Election Day voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; anyone in line by 9 p.m. may vote.
• Nov. 3: Mailed ballots must be postmarked by this date; ballots may also be delivered to the Board of Elections or a poll site in the County by 9 p.m.
• Nov. 10: Deadline for timely postmarked civilian early-mail and absentee ballots to be received by the Board of Elections.

Myth / Fact

Myth: A ballot placed in an emergency ballot slot during a scanner interruption will not count.

Fact: The secured paper ballot is preserved and processed under standard bipartisan procedures when scanning resumes.

Voters in special situations

Voting after incarceration: New York voting eligibility depends on current status, not simply a past conviction. Use the State Board of Elections Voting After Incarceration guidance or contact the local Board of Elections for help.