With no one knowing what June would look like amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Monroe County Democratric Board of Elections Commissioner Jackie Ortiz said Friday that her team took precautions when choosing locations for early voting in the primary elections, which starts this weekend.
Ortiz said she’s worked with her colleagues to secure bigger locations amid complaints from last year about lack of room for social distancing.
“We did our best to tweak some of the locations,” said Ortiz. “We tried to find ones that are maybe a little bit less tight than last year and will hopefully improve the flow for voters visiting the sites.”
She said the 14 sites have separate exits and entrances and, in some cases, separate rules.
Ortiz said that locations have the option to add their own guidelines on top of the ones from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if they chose. For example — the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester is requiring masks.
Ortiz also said they’re working up to the last minute to train new staffers because some have still not returned because of the pandemic. Despite that, she’s confident her team is ready to go.
“You know, it goes a little faster than other years in terms of filling them but, you know, despite all of that we will make sure that everything is taken care of and the sites are adequately staffed,” Ortiz said.
Early voting will continue for nine days. Registered voters can vote in person on June 22. People can also vote by mail by request.
Below are the dates, times and locations of early voting sites
Early voting dates and times for 2021 primary election:
Saturday, June 12 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 13 9 a.m to 3 p.m.
Monday, June 14 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, June 15 11 a.m. 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, June 17 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, June 18 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 19 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 20 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Early voting locations for 2021 primary election:
David F. Gantt Community Center 700 North St., Rochester, NY 14605
Boys & Girls Club 500 Genesee St., Rochester, NY 14611
Sibley Square 250 E Main St., Rochester, NY 14604
Edgerton Recreation Center 41 Backus St., Rochester, NY 14608
Norton Village Recreation Center 350 Waring Rd., Rochester, NY 14609
SUNY Empire State College 680 Westfall Rd., Rochester, NY 14620
Town of Chili Senior Center 3235 Chili Ave., Rochester, NY 14624
North Greece Road Church of Christ 1039 N. Greece Rd., Rochester, NY 14626
Henrietta Public Library 625 Calkins Rd., Rochester, NY 14623
Irondequoit Public Library 1290 Titus Ave., Rochester, NY 14617
PCC Community Room 1985 Baird Rd., Penfield, NY 14526
Perinton Square Mall 6720 Pittsford Palmyra Rd., Fairport, NY 14450
Sweden Clarkson Community Center 4927 Lake Rd., Brockport, NY 14420
Webster Library 980 Ridge Rd., Webster, NY 14580