Board helping downstate volunteers vote

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Western New York is providing some help for the hurricane zone during next week's Presidential Election Day.

Volunteers thought they'd be in WNY on Election Day, but they were called to duty downstate. Hurricane Sandy struck after the deadline for absentee voting, so now dozens of western New York first responders may not be home in time to vote at their polling sites.

Erie County Elections Commissioner Dennis Ward said, "Commissioner Ralph Mohr and I are making arrangements. We're going to attempt to try and accommodate those who are being called into service."

They will have to vote by fax or e-mail.

"The only contacts we've had so far are from those who are going be headquartered at a location, at a hotel that has accommodations like that," Ward said.

Also, last week a cargo plane from Afghanistan crashed and it's believed that plane had two or three completed ballots from local soldiers oversees, so Ward is sending them new ones just in case.

"Obviously, if we get one back, we won't count the second one, but better to have two out there and make sure someone who's on the front lines would have the opportunity to cast their ballot," Ward said.

Most voters have used the new paper ballot system by now, but this is the first time Erie County has used them in a Presidential race.

Ward said, "We have prepared ballots for 100 percent turnout."

582,000 ballots are ready to go just in case, but the realistic turnout even for a Presidential race "will be somewhere between 70 and 80 percent of the registered voters," Ward said.

There are only four more days left to hear commercials in the closely contested race between Kathy Hochul and Chris Collins. But have you noticed any commercials for President Obama or Mitt Romney on local TV?

Ward noted, "Neither of the campaigns for President spends any money at all here."

And that's because New York is a blue state, fully expected to vote Democratic, and most of the commercials air in swing states. If you want to avoid lines on Election Day, avoid the peak times like the breakfast and dinner hours.