The Jamestown Gateway Train Station will no longer be a polling site in Ward 3 in the city of Jamestown. Last year, National Comedy Center officials, who use the lobby of the train station as its gift shop, notified the Chautauqua County Election Commissioners that the location would no longer be available for election purposes. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Comedy Center will no longer be a polling site during elections.

National Comedy Center officials sent a correspondence to the Chautauqua County Election Commissioners Brian Abram and Norman Green in August detailing how the Jamestown Gateway Train Station lobby, which is where the National Comedy Center’s gift shop is located, would be used for the last time in November for election purposes.

“Due to the pandemic we have restructured our hours and our museum is currently closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. This allows us ample time to provide a thorough cleaning and sanitization of our museum that we have committed to in our Laugh Safe Program,” stated Rochelle Mole’, National Comedy Center vice president of finance and operations. “Due to these unusual circumstances, we are able to offer you the space for the Nov. 3, 2020, elections as we are closed to the public on that day. This is a one-time deal. We will accommodate this year due to the unique circumstances in response to the pandemic, but will insist that you find an alternate location in the future as it is a hardship going forward. It is not open for discussion, but given the pandemic, we are able to accommodate this request in 2020.”

Earlier this month, Abram and Green sent a correspondence to the Jamestown City Council, Mayor Eddie Sundquist and Jennifer Williams, city clerk, asking for their assistance in finding a new polling location in Ward 3.

“Every board of elections shall, in consultation with each city, town and village, designate the polling places in each election district in which the meetings for the registration of voters, and for any election may be held,” the election commissioners stated. “We are now seeking your advice and counsel as required by law.”