Delevan, New York Public Records

Residents can register to vote online through the New York State Board of Elections website at https://voterreg.dmv.ny.gov/MotorVoter/, or by submitting a paper registration form available at the county Board of Elections, town offices, DMV locations, and various government agencies. New York requires registration at least 25 days before an election. The state now offers early voting, typically beginning nine days before Election Day and continuing through the Sunday before the election at designated sites throughout Cattaraugus County. Valid photo identification is helpful but not required to vote; New York does not have a strict voter ID requirement, though first-time voters who registered by mail may need to provide identification. As an unincorporated hamlet, Delevan does not hold its own municipal elections for mayor or village board. Local governance comes from the Yorkshire Town Board, which typically holds elections in odd-numbered years for Town Supervisor, Town Council members, and other town offices. These elections occur on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in odd years, with the next Yorkshire town elections scheduled for November 2025. Residents also vote for Cattaraugus County Legislature representatives, with the county divided into districts that each elect one legislator to two-year terms. Finding your assigned polling place is straightforward, contact the Cattaraugus County Board of Elections at (716) 938-2400, check the New York State Board of Elections polling place locator at https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/, or refer to your voter registration card which lists the location. For the 2024 general election, local residents typically voted at Yorkshire Town Hall or other nearby locations depending on their specific election district. Several categories of election records are public under state election law. Voter registration lists can be purchased from county boards of elections for approved purposes such as political campaigns, though personal information is protected. Campaign finance records for state and county candidates are available through the New York State Board of Elections website at www.elections.ny.gov and must disclose contributions and expenditures. Candidate filing documents including petitions and certificates of nomination are public records maintained by the Board of Elections. Election results by polling place and election district are published after each election and available from the county Board of Elections office. In the November 2024 presidential election, Cattaraugus County recorded approximately 30,000 votes cast from roughly 51,000 registered voters, representing a turnout rate of approximately 59 percent, consistent with typical presidential election participation in rural New York counties. The county has historically leaned Republican in recent elections, though results vary by office and district. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, voters in the area will decide several important races. New York will hold elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, as both positions are up in 2026 for four-year terms. The U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand is not up in 2026 (it was last elected in 2024), but the seat held by Chuck Schumer will be on the ballot as it is up for election in 2028, not 2026. However, all of New York's 26 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be contested in 2026, including the district representing Cattaraugus County (currently the 23rd Congressional District). State-level races include all 63 seats in the New York State Senate and all 150 seats in the New York State Assembly, both elected to two-year terms. At the Cattaraugus County level, all 17 seats on the Cattaraugus County Legislature will be on the ballot for two-year terms. The New York State Attorney General, Comptroller, and various judgeships may also appear on the 2026 ballot depending on term expirations. Local town positions in Yorkshire may be on the ballot if any special elections are called, though regular town elections occur in odd-numbered years. New York allows absentee voting for voters who will be out of their county of residence on Election Day, have illness or disability, or meet other statutory criteria. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the county Board of Elections website, by mail, or in person. The Cattaraugus County Board of Elections must receive absentee ballot applications at least seven days before the election (or earlier for military and overseas voters). 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. New York does not have true no-excuse mail-in voting, but the state has expanded early voting options significantly in recent years, providing greater flexibility for voters who cannot reach their polling place on Election Day.