To comply with the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), Seneca County utilizes specialized electronic voting machines known as Ballot Marking Devices (BMD's). Beginning with the 2009 election cycle, these machines have been implemented throughout each of the county's 19 polling locations. While some voters may be unfamiliar with the new technology, it provides advantages such as: better accessibility for voters with disabilities, improved error checking (as the new machines will alert a voter to problems with the ballot before it is counted) and additional measures to increase election integrity (an electronically scanned image serves as a backup for every paper ballot cast). To learn more about voting on the BMD, watch the video or contact the Board of Elections at 315-539-1760.

There are 19 polling locations found throughout the county. Voters are assigned a polling location based on their residency district. It is important to first know what district you belong to (usually based on street location).

To find out your correct voting district, you can search using the following link or contact the Board of Elections at 315-539-1760. (*Note - The Link will open a new window.)

New York State Voter Information Database

If you know your correct voting district, you can find the specific polling location by clicking on the link below.

To be eligible to vote, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States (Includes those persons born in Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
• Be a Seneca County resident for at least 30 days.
• Be 18 years of age before the next election.
• Not be serving a jail sentence or be on parole for a felony conviction.
• Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

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In addition, certain rules apply for Primary Elections. Because a primary is strictly a party election, only voters registered with one of the parties conducting a primary may participate in that party's election. All registered voters (with or without party affiliation) may vote only in General and Special Elections. To learn more about your voting eligiblity, contact the Board of Elections at 315-539-1760.

A "Primary Election" is one in which only enrolled members of a party may vote for the purpose of nominating party candidates and electing party officers. In any election district, if a race is uncontested, no primary is held. A "Primary Election" is held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September unless otherwise changed by an act of the legislature. Polls are open for voting from Noon until 9:00 p.m.

The board of elections canvasses the returns of the primary elections as early as possible within nine days from the day upon which the primary election is held. The board tabulates the number of votes cast for all the candidates for nomination to each public office or for election to a party position, and the number of votes cast for each such candidate. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be the nominee of his party in the general election for such office or will be elected to a party position.

A "General Election" is an election that is open to all eligible voters regardless of party affiliation. The most prominent example is the Presidential election held every four years. General Elections occur on the first Tuesday in the month of November. Polls are open for voting from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.