Ulster Board of Elections receives almost $250,000 from HAVA CARES Act

KINGSTON – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced Saturday that the county has received $248,928 from the HAVA Cares Act.

To assist an effective response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the State Board of Elections is providing a new stream of funding through the HAVA Cares Act to address additional funds needed to protect the health and safety of employees, inspectors and voters.

This funding will go towards administering costs of the 2020 federal election, such as mailing and providing absentee ballots, automated counters, PPE supplies, and deep cleaning services of poll sites.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the county board of elections encourages residents to vote by absentee ballot for all elections taking place on June 23. All voters eligible to participate in the June 23 elections have been mailed an absentee ballot application with return postage paid. Eligible voters can also send an absentee ballot request by email to elections@co.ulster.ny.us.

For voters concerned about exposure to COVID-19 they should select “temporary illness or physical disability” as the reason for requesting the absentee ballot. Your completed absentee ballot application must be returned to the board of elections as soon as possible. It must be received by the local board of elections postmarked no later than June 16, 2020 if the voter wants to receive their ballot by mail.

For the elections on June 23, voters may also email, fax or call the Ulster County Board of Elections to request an absentee ballot without the use of the application. They need to provide their name and address.

After a request has been processed by the board, the voter will be sent the appropriate absentee ballot(s).

The last day to return a ballot by mail is postmarked June 22 provided that it is received by the board of elections by June 30. If returned personally, it must be received by the board of elections before 9 p.m. on June 23.

Poll sites will be open in the county from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. on June 23.

Another way for voters to avoid crowds and assist in social distancing is to take advantage of nine days of early voting from June 13-21 ahead of Election Day. Early voting sites in  are located at the Saugerties Senior Center in Saugerties, The New Paltz High School in New Paltz and the Edson School in Kingston. All eligible voters may vote early at any of the three early voting centers. Hours are as follows:

Due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, please go to the county board of elections website for any election-related updates: elections.ulstercountyny.gov