Bradford, New York Public Records

Citizens, 18 years old by election day, residents of Schuyler County for at least 30 days prior to the election, and not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. The voter registration deadline is 25 days before any election. Acceptable forms of ID for registration include a New York State driver's license or DMV non-driver ID. First-time voters who registered by mail may need to provide identification when voting for the first time. As a small town, Bradford does not have a mayor. The town government consists of the Bradford Town Board, which includes the Town Supervisor and four Town Council members. Town elections are held in odd-numbered years, with the next Bradford town elections scheduled for November 2025. The Town Supervisor and Council positions appear on the ballot, along with other town offices such as Town Clerk and Highway Superintendent as their terms expire. Voters can find information about local candidates through the Schuyler County Board of Elections, which posts candidate filings and sample ballots before elections. Residents can look up their assigned polling place using the New York State Board of Elections polling place locator at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov or by contacting the Schuyler County Board of Elections at (607) 535-8195. The town typically has one polling location serving residents. Under New York's Freedom of Information Law, voter registration lists are considered public records and can be requested from the Board of Elections for legitimate purposes, though use restrictions apply. Campaign finance records for state and county candidates are available through the New York State Board of Elections at publicreporting.elections.ny.gov, showing contributions and expenditures. Precinct-level election results are published by the Schuyler County Board of Elections after certification, showing vote totals by town and district. In the November 2024 presidential election, Schuyler County reported approximately 62% voter turnout, with around 7,800 votes cast out of roughly 12,500 registered voters countywide. Bradford's turnout typically mirrors county averages in presidential election years. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Bradford and Schuyler County voters will decide several significant races. New York's Governor and Lieutenant Governor positions will be on the ballot, as Governor Kathy Hochul's current term expires in January 2027. All 213 seats in the New York State Legislature will be contested, including Bradford's State Senate district (currently the 58th District) and State Assembly district (currently the 132nd District). At the Schuyler County level, some Schuyler County Legislature seats will be up for election, along with potential county offices such as Sheriff, County Clerk, and District Attorney depending on term expirations. The U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand will not be on the 2026 ballot, as her term runs through 2028, but New York's other U.S. Senate seat held by Chuck Schumer is up in 2028. All New York U.S. House seats, including the district serving Bradford, will be contested in 2026. New York allows absentee voting for voters who will be absent from their county on election day, unable to appear due to illness or disability, or have duties related to primary care of individuals who are ill or disabled. Absentee ballot applications can be requested from the Schuyler County Board of Elections and must be received by the Board at least seven days before the election if applying by mail, or the day before the election if applying in person. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day and received by the Board of Elections within seven days after the election to be counted. Early voting is also available in New York, typically beginning nine days before election day and running through the Sunday before election day at designated early voting sites, which for Bradford residents are announced by the Schuyler County Board of Elections before each election.