It was a scene that will play out dozens of times in locations around the county. Representatives from the Westchester County Board of Elections held electronic voting machine training for a group of poll workers in the Thursday.
By the time New York State's primary election occurs on Thursday, September 13, as many as 6,000 poll workers will attend mandatory training classes to learn procedures for assisting voters and ensuring all ballots are properly cast and counted. At the Rye Town Court, there were 5 sessions at different times throughout the day for an expected 100 poll workers.
This year's primary election falls on Thursday because the anniversary of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks occurs on the preceding Tuesday.
During the electronic voting machine training, poll workers were instructed on properly securing ballot reports from the scanner machine and how to assist voters without compromising their privacy.
Poll workers ensure the electronic machines accept properly cast ballots and assist voters who request help. For voters concerned about other people seeing their ballots, a privacy sleeve is available to shield the choices on their ballots from the roving eyes of other voters or even the poll workers.
The electronic voting machines have been in use since 2010. Each election district will receive one electronic voting machine and 4 election workers for each of those machines, so the number of machines will vary based on the number of voting districts at each polling place.
The Westchester Board of Election is still accepting applications for poll workers and election inspectors on its website.
Important dates and resources for the New York Primary Election on Thursday, September 13:
- Today is the last day for New York voter registration by mail. Your application (in English or in Spanish must be postmarked by Friday, August 17 and received by the County Board of Elections by Friday, August 24 to be eligible to participate in the September 13 primary.
- Today is also the last day to register in person to vote in the September primary
- Today is the last day for military voters not previously registered to vote to request a ballot for the primary election. Active military voters who are already registered have until Thursday, September 6 to request a ballot by mail and until Wednesday, September 12 to request a ballot in person. All military ballots for the September primary must be postmarked by Wednesday, September 12 and received by Thursday, September 20 by the board of elections.
More Primary Election Info:
Changes of address for registered voters must be received by Friday, August 24 for processing before the September primary.
Mail registration for the Tuesday, November 6 general election must be postmarked by Friday, October 12 and received by the County Board of Elections by Wednesday, October 17. Changes of address for registered voters must also be processed by October 17.
Look-up your Westchester County polling place at this link. Polling places open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
