Jamestown, New York Public Records

Applicants must provide their New York driver license or DMV non-driver ID number. The registration deadline is 25 days before an election for both in-person and online registration. New York does not offer same-day registration. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by election day, and residents of the county or New York City for at least 30 days before the election. Photo ID is required only for first-time voters who registered by mail and did not provide identification with their registration. As a city with its own municipal government, Jamestown holds elections for Mayor and City Council. The Mayor serves a four-year term, as do City Council members representing the city's various wards and at-large seats. The next mayoral election will be held in November 2025, following the odd-year municipal election schedule. Candidates for local office must file designating petitions with the Chautauqua County Board of Elections by the deadlines specified in New York Election Law, typically in mid-spring before the November election. Local ballot measures, if any, appear on the ballot following approval by the City Council. Residents can find their assigned polling place by using the "Find Your Poll Site" tool at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov or by contacting the Chautauqua County Board of Elections. Polling places are assigned based on residential address and Election District. New York's Freedom of Information Law makes certain election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists are available for purchase by qualified requestors (candidates, political committees) for political purposes only. Campaign finance reports filed by candidates for state and local office are available through the New York State Board of Elections at www.elections.ny.gov and may be available at the Chautauqua County Board of Elections for local races. Candidate petition filings, certification documents, and official election results by election district are public records available from the Board of Elections. Precinct-level election results are published by the Chautauqua County Board following canvassing and certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Chautauqua County reported approximately 58% voter turnout among registered voters, with roughly 61,000 total votes cast out of approximately 106,000 registered voters. The county, which includes Jamestown, has traditionally leaned Republican in presidential elections, though the city itself shows more competitive partisan balance. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several significant races for Jamestown and Chautauqua County voters. New York will hold gubernatorial elections in 2026, with Governor Kathy Hochul's seat up for election along with other statewide offices including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller. New York's U.S. Senate seats are not up for election in 2026 (Senator Schumer's term expires in 2028; Senator Gillibrand's in 2024). Voters will elect members to the New York State Senate (District 57 represents Jamestown) and State Assembly (District 150 includes Jamestown). County-level offices on the ballot will include Chautauqua County Executive, County Legislature seats, District Attorney, Sheriff, County Clerk, and potentially County Coroner. The city will not have mayoral elections in 2026 (next in 2025), but depending on the cycle, some City Council seats may be contested. New York offers absentee voting for voters who meet specific criteria: illness or physical disability, absence from the county on election day, duties as a poll worker outside one's election district, detention in jail awaiting grand jury action or trial, or being a qualified military or overseas voter. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the Chautauqua County Board of Elections no later than the day before the election (for in-person applications) or postmarked by the day before and received within seven days (for mailed applications). Voters can request absentee ballots online at www.elections.ny.gov, by mail, or in person at the Chautauqua County Board of Elections. 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.