ITHACA, N.Y. — Commissioners at the Tompkins County Board of Elections (BOE) are calling for county residents to check their voter registration status and utilize early voting ahead of the General Election on Nov. 5, which they anticipate will have high voter turnout. Democratic Commissioner Steve DeWitt encouraged residents to vote early, from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, in a statement from the BOE sent Thursday. He said it would help reduce the expected high in-person turnout on Election Day.“Because this is a presidential election year, we are gearing up for a busy next few months and preparing for high voter turnout,” Republican Election Commissioner Alanna Congdon said in the statement. Residents have until Oct. 26 to register to vote in the General Election and to submit applications to the BOE for absentee or early voting. Applications are accepted online, by mail or in person at the board’s office at 128 E. Buffalo St. in Downtown Ithaca.The deadline to apply for absentee or early voting by mail is Nov. 4. Voters do not need to provide reasoning for early voting. The last day to postmark a General Election ballot or to deliver one in person at a polling site or the BOE office is Nov. 5. The ballot must be received by the BOE no later than Nov. 14. Residents can check their registration status, search for poll sites and track absentee ballots through the New York State Board of Elections.As of Sept. 10, there are a total of 57,164 individuals registered to vote in Tompkins County, including 31,040 Democrats and 10,136 Republicans. The remaining 12,900 voters are not registered with either party, according to the statement from the BOE. Residents can register to vote in person at the BOE office during its regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at one of the upcoming voter registration events listed below:Table at Airport and Community Preparedness Expo: Saturday, September 14, 7am-1pm, 62 Brown Rd, IthacaTable on the Ithaca Commons: Saturday, September 14, 12pm-4pmExtended office hours/events:Saturday, September 28, 2pm-9pmThursday, Oct. 10, 9am-5pm (Statewide Registration Day)Tuesday, Oct. 22, 9am-7pmThursday, Oct. 24, 9am-7pmSaturday, Oct. 26, 9am-5pmTuesday, Oct. 29, 9am–7pmThursday, Oct. 31, 9am-7pmThe post How to register to vote and participate in early voting in the General Election appeared first on The Ithaca Voice.First published by The Ithaca Voice.