East Chatham, New York Public Records

New voters must register at least 25 days before an election, providing name, date of birth, address, and either a New York driver license number, non-driver ID, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Photo ID isn't required at the polls; voters sign the poll book and that signature gets compared to what's on file. As an unincorporated hamlet, East Chatham doesn't elect its own mayor or council. Instead, residents participate in Town of Chatham elections, choosing a Town Supervisor, four Council members, and other officials like Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent, and Town Justice in odd-numbered years. The next Town of Chatham elections arrive in November 2025. Candidates run on party lines - Republican, Democratic, Conservative, and sometimes others. County-level races for Board of Supervisors representatives, Sheriff, County Clerk, and other offices also appear on local ballots. Finding your polling place is simple: use the New York State Board of Elections locator at https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ or call the Columbia County Board directly. Assignment depends on your address and election district. Polls open at 6:00 AM and close at 9:00 PM on Election Day. Public election records include voter registration lists (available for political purposes with proper application), campaign finance reports filed with the New York State Board of Elections at https://www.elections.ny.gov/ and searchable at https://publicreporting.elections.ny.gov/CampaignFinance/, candidate petitions, and certified results by district. Voter history, whether someone voted, not how, is also public. Actual ballot choices remain confidential. In the November 2024 presidential election, Columbia County reported about 36,000 registered voters with turnout around 65-70%, typical for this historically engaged electorate. The county has trended Democratic in recent cycles, though rural areas like Chatham often lean more Republican than the City of Hudson. On November 3, 2026, voters here will weigh in on several major contests. At the federal level, no U.S. Senate seat is up (Gillibrand's term ended in 2024, Schumer's runs through 2028), but all 26 U.S. House seats will be contested; East Chatham falls in New York's 19th Congressional District. For state races, Governor Kathy Hochul's term expires in 2026, making the gubernatorial election a headline race alongside Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller. All 63 State Senate seats and all 150 Assembly seats will also be on the ballot. County-level races include Board of Supervisors seats, Sheriff, County Clerk, and potentially County Coroner. Since Town of Chatham offices are elected in odd years (2025, 2027), no town positions will appear on the 2026 ballot for residents. Absentee voting is available to any registered voter in New York. Applications can be submitted online at https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/, by mail, or in person at the Board of Elections. Applications must reach the Board no later than 10 days before Election Day (or the day before if applying in person due to unexpected illness or disability). Completed ballots need a postmark by Election Day and must arrive within seven days, or be delivered in person by 9:00 PM on Election Day. New York also offers early voting beginning nine days before Election Day and running through the Sunday before. Designated early voting sites in Columbia County are listed on the Board of Elections website.