What comes after Election Day? New York’s next steps for the 2020 election

The year 2020 is unique for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is the presidential election.

After Election Day comes and goes on November 3, voters will likely not see a definitive winner of most political races on Tuesday night due to absentee and affidavit ballots. The percentage of eligible registered voters in the greater Rochester area casting their ballots by absentee and affidavit ballots ranges from about 10 percent to nearly 50 percent by county.

That being said, there are a number of factors to consider about ballot counting in New York – from the time it takes to count them to the possibility of challenges in court.

An executive order signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in August requires the boards to adopt a swift voting count. All objections from any campaign must be made to the county board in real time, and all ballots – in-person, affidavit, and absentee – must be ready to count within 48 hours after elections.

Officials with the Board of Elections need to allow time for the ballots to arrive by mail and be compiled. Ballots postmarked on or before Election Day will be counted if received by November 10.

There are affidavit ballots that will need to be processed and checked against voter files, as well. Military ballots will also need to be added to that compilation.

The total number of absentee ballots mailed out by county are below:

Genesee County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 4,905
• Total registered voters: 38,100
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 12.9%

Livingston County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 4,584
• Total registered voters: 41,999
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 10.9%

Monroe County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 134,774
• Total registered voters: 481,448
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 28%

Ontario County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 12,652
• Total registered voters: 76,188
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 16.6%

Orleans County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 2,511
• Total registered voters: 24,276
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 10.3%

Seneca County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 2,591
• Total registered voters: 20,416
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 12.7%

Steuben County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 6,375
• Total registered voters: 60,175
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 10.6%

Wayne County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 7,929
• Total registered voters: 58,153
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 13.6%

Wyoming County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 2,431
• Total registered voters: 24,625
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 9.9%

Yates County

• Absentee ballots mailed out: 1,823
• Total registered voters: 3,746
• Percentage of voters voting by mail: 48.7%

All told, absentee ballots will be counted in Monroe County beginning November 16.

Early voting totals will be added to the total number of votes tabulated on Election Night and be available that night when results are released. This means the absentee ballot counting process will (thankfully) be the final step in the 2020 general election.

13WHAM News will continue to update results on our website under the Election Results section.