Katrin Anderson stands with her 6-year-old grandson Jacob after voting on Sunday at the Chautauqua Mall. Early voting began in the county and across the state on Saturday. P-J photos by Cameron Hurst

Election commissioners Norm Green and Brian Abram on Monday announced that 14,279 voters cast ballots this year at the county’s three early voting poll sites. Sunday was the last day to vote early before Tuesday’s General Election.

All county poll sites will be open on Election Day 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

As of Monday, the Board of Elections has also received 11,901 applications for absentee ballots and 9,545 of the absentees have been returned, with a deadline for receipt of seven days after the election for ballots postmarked not later than Election Day. Additionally, military and overseas voters’ ballots have thirteen days after the election to arrive and be considered timely.

Voters who vote Election Day or during the early voting period who have also voted by absentee ballot, will have their absentee ballots set aside and not counted.

A total of 182 ballots were received by the Board of Election in the county with fatal defects such as a signature that does not match the voter’s record, unsealed ballot envelopes and incorrect affidavit of eligibility. Each voter was contacted at least twice by mail and phone or email requesting that they “cure” the errors. A total of 107 voters have already cured ballot defects making the ballots countable.

Voters may still vote absentee by visiting the Board of Elections, 7 N Erie St. Mayville today until 5 p.m. A voter may alternatively use an agent to carry an absentee ballot application today or tomorrow, with the application directing the BOE to deliver the ballot to the designated agent.

Chautauqua County has 79,655 registered active voters and 26,180 voters have cast early or absentee voter. 54,664 voters cast ballots in the 2016 presidential elections, with the same turnout in 2020 that would mean about 48% of the voters have already voted in the county.