As the November election approaches, the Ulster County Board of Elections is urging residents to get informed, get registered, and get out to vote. Commissioners Ashley Torres and John Quigley spoke with Radio Catskill to share key dates, changes to polling locations, and what goes on behind the scenes to make Election Day run smoothly.
A Busy Season for Local Democracy
With more than 144,000 registered voters across Ulster County, election season is a hectic time for the Board’s 14-person staff.
“We’re issuing absentee and vote-by-mail ballots, testing voting machines, training over 650 election inspectors, and making sure everything is ready for Election Day,” Torres said. “It’s a lot of moving parts, but the goal is simple — a fair, smooth, and accessible election.”
Key Dates to Remember
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October 25: Early voting begins — and it’s also “Golden Day,” the last day to register to vote for this election.
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October 25–November 3: Early voting continues. Most days are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with late hours noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, and Thursday, Oct. 30.
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November 4: Election Day — polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Early voting sites are open to any voter in the county, regardless of where they live. Sites include:
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Olive: American Legion in Shokan
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Kingston: Midtown Neighborhood Center on Broadway
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Ellenville: Ellenville Public Library
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New Paltz: New Paltz Community Center
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Highland: New location — Highland American Legion (formerly Marlboro Community Center)
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Saugerties: Saugerties Senior Center at the Cantine Field Complex
Visit VoteUlster.com for details and updates.
Behind the Ballots
Quigley says a “successful election day” means every polling site opens on time and every voter has a positive experience.
“New York has one of the longest election days in the country — 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” he said. “We make sure poll sites are ready for anything, from power outages to a hot day where inspectors need water. By 10:30 or 11 p.m., we usually have 99% of results reported.”
Unlike online voting systems, results in Ulster County are physically transported on secured USB drives — not sent digitally — to ensure integrity. Early and absentee ballots are typically the first results reported after 9 p.m.
Counting Every Vote
Even after Election Day, the counting isn’t over. Torres emphasized that all valid mail-in and affidavit ballots are included, even if the race isn’t close.
“We process ballots postmarked by Election Day and affidavit ballots starting November 10,” she explained. “If there’s a tight race, we conduct an automatic hand count. We can recount every ballot in Ulster County in about five to seven days.”
The Board invites the public to observe these counts. “It’s an open process — transparent from start to finish,” Torres added.
A Right That’s Never Denied
Quigley reminded voters that in New York, no one can be denied the right to vote.
“If you ever feel you’re being turned away, you can always request an affidavit ballot,” he said. “We’ll verify and resolve it afterward. Your voice will still be heard.”