If you are planning to vote during the early voting period that begins on October 24, 2020 and runs through November 1, 2020, and are looking for public transportation to County Building 2, located at 3837 W. Main Street road in the Town of Batavia, you will have to make a special appointment with RTS at least one to two days in advance.
According to Lorie Longhany, Genesee County Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner, after speaking with RTS, people who require public transportation to attend early voting should call RTS at 585-343-3079 and make an appointment at least one to two days in advance. The appointment should be made for pick up and return service. According to Longhany, the approximate time for the early voting process is about 15 minutes.
Tom Brede, RTS Communications Spokesperson, says there are two options people have when calling. They can request a Route Deviation Service, which is a guaranteed time for pick up and return, or the Dial A Ride Service, which is on a first come, first serve basis and is based on availability that day, it is not guaranteed. Both options will drop you off and pick you up at the building entrance. The cost for both options is $2.00 one way.
The closest stop the bus service regularly makes to County Building 2 is at Big Tree Glen Apartments, 3727 West Main Street road, an eight minute walk to County Building 2.
Link to the RTS bus schedule/Rt. 214 https://www.myrts.com/Portals/0/Schedules/Regionals/Genesee/RTS%20Genesee%20Route%20214%202020.pdf?ver=2020-07-23-090006-610
Brede says face masks are required on all RTS buses and because of COVID-19, capacity on the buses are limited.
The issue was brought up by Judith Sobresky, who lives in Erie County and who is making a special trip to Genesee County to drive her 82 year old father to County Building 2 for early voting.
“There is mail-in ballot, but with all the issues being reported he is definitely voting in person,” says Sobresky.
She says her dad has to avoid the crowds due to COVID and does not drive.
After Sobresky called the Genesee County Board of Elections and RTS about the issue a few days ago, Lorie Longhany, Genesee County Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner , called RTS to see what the options were for voters who need public transportation to County Building 2 for early voting.
“We want to make voting as easy as possible, we want to help the voter,” says Longhany.
“I proposed they simply sit down with RTS and work something out that doesn’t put people in danger, says Sobresky. The purpose of early voting in a pandemic is to allow those with special considerations a way to vote.”
Sobresky says that she realized that the only early voting location in Genesee County was essentially inaccessible to anyone without a vehicle or now an appointment for public transportation.
“Its pretty simple. Make it a temporary regular stop. They can drop and pickup people up at the front door of Walmart, but they can’t do that at a polling place for a presidential election?”
This is the third time Genesee County has participated in the early voting process and there were several reasons why County Building 2 was chosen as the location site for early voting.
According to Longhany, the Board of Elections Office at 15 Main street, County Building 1, does not have ample parking. County Office Building 2 is also where the voting machines are located and at the end of the day ballots can be secured there.
“There are positives and negatives for every polling location.”
In Orleans County, the RTS Bus Service makes trips to the Orleans County Board of Elections early voting location at 14016 Rt. 31 in Albion Monday-Friday from early morning to late afternoon.
In Wyoming County, the RTS Bus Service has a drop off location at the Silver Lake Family Restaurant, a minute walk, to the Wyoming County Board of Elections early voting location at 4 Perry Avenue in Warsaw.
In Erie County there are 37 early voting locations. In Monroe County there are 12 early voting locations.
Here are the Genesee County early voting dates and times/General Election for November 3, 2020
Saturday, October 24, 2020 – 12pm-5pm
Sunday, October 25, 2020 – 12pm-5pm
Monday, October 26, 2020 – 9am-5pm
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 – 12pm-8pm
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 – 12pm-8pm
Thursday, October 29, 2020 – 9am-5pm
Friday, October 30, 2020 – 9am-5pm
Saturday, October 31, 2020 – 12pm-5pm
Sunday, November 1, 2020 – 12pm-5pm
As a reminder, there is now a drop box for ballots on the southside of County Building 1, on Ellicott street. It has been there for about 14 days. Ballots are collected and secured from the steel drop box each day according to Longhany.
Anyone that wishes to use the Absentee Ballot voting process can apply for an Absentee Ballot by mail, phone, fax, email or online.
Applications can be found at election.ny.gov/VotingAbsentee.html or www.cogenesee.ny.us/departments/elections/index.php
Absentee ballots must be post marked by October 27, 2020. You can also Absentee vote by phone by calling 585-815-7804 until October 27, 2020.
After October 27, 2020 you can drop off your ballot in person at the Genesee County Board of Elections at 15 Main street until November 2, 2020, the day before election day.