Lakemont, New York Public Records

Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended hours before major elections. Voters in the hamlet can register online through the New York State Board of Elections website at www.elections.ny.gov using the online voter registration portal. New registrations must be submitted at least 25 days before an election. New York allows same-day voter registration during the early voting period, which begins nine days before Election Day. Acceptable forms of ID for registration include a New York driver's license or DMV-issued ID, the last four digits of a Social Security number, or other approved identification. Residents can also register by mail using a printable form from the state website or in person at the Yates County Board of Elections. Registration forms are also available at the New York DMV, public libraries, and social service offices. Because Lakemont is an unincorporated hamlet, there are no municipal elections for mayor or village trustees. Residents vote for Town of Starkey offices including Town Supervisor, Town Council members (typically four positions), Town Clerk, and Town Justice. These elections are held in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The next Town of Starkey elections will be held in November 2025. Candidate information and local ballot measures can be found on the Yates County Board of Elections website as Election Day approaches, typically 45-60 days before the election. The community also votes for Yates County offices including County Legislature representatives, Sheriff, County Clerk, and District Attorney on four-year cycles. Polling place assignments can be found by using the New York State Board of Elections polling place lookup tool at https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov or by contacting the Yates County Board of Elections. Assignments are based on the voter's residence address and election district. For Lakemont, the typical polling location is the Starkey Town Hall, though this should be verified before each election. New York offers early voting at designated sites starting nine days before Election Day and running through the Sunday before Election Day, typically 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 4 PM on weekends. Under New York Election Law, many election records are public. Voter registration lists are available for purchase by candidates and political committees, though they cannot be used for commercial purposes. Campaign finance disclosure reports for state and local candidates are searchable through the New York State Board of Elections website at www.elections.ny.gov/CFViewReports.html. Candidate petitions, certificates of nomination, and statements of organization are public records available at the Yates County Board of Elections. Precinct-level election results are posted on the Yates County website after each election and are archived for historical research. In the November 2024 presidential election, Yates County recorded approximately 64% voter turnout, with roughly 8,200 ballots cast out of 12,800 registered voters. The county has historically leaned Republican in federal elections, though state and local races are often competitive. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Lakemont and Yates County voters will decide several significant races. The 2026 ballot will include the Governor of New York (Kathy Hochul's term expires in 2026), all 213 seats in the New York State Assembly including the 131st District which represents Yates County, all 63 seats in the New York State Senate including the 58th District, and one of New York's U.S. Senate seats (Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's seat is up for election in 2026). County-level positions will also appear if they fall on the four-year cycle, including County Legislature representatives. Local Town of Starkey positions will be on the ballot in November 2025 (odd-year cycle). New York allows absentee voting for voters who will be away from their county of residence on Election Day, are unable to vote due to illness or disability, or have concerns about COVID-19 or other illness. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Yates County Board of Elections or by downloading the form at www.elections.ny.gov and returning it by mail, fax, or email. The application deadline is seven days before Election Day for mail delivery or the day before Election Day for in-person pickup. 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. Voters can track their absentee ballot status online at https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov.