Skip to main content

Photo: Waiting for permission to vote

By Howard B. Owens

Each election for the past several elections, Judge Robert C. Noonan has been the on-call judge to consider any cases of people who say they registered to vote but were turned away at their polling place.

Typically, these are people who moved but the revised registration didn't quite catch up with them.

Noonan said in 2000, a highly contested election, there were a few people who showed up for the 6 p.m. hearing time, but with the exception of one school board election, there have been no such appeals in the intervening elections.

Until tonight.

At least five people showed up to the elections office to make their case to Noonan.

Among them, Kevin LaRocco, who moved back to Le Roy two weeks ago from Orleans County. He said simply that he was just looking for a chance to vote and he hoped Noonan would give it to him.

Noonan said he reviews documents and most of the time, the matter can be resolved easily, but there is a provision to hold a short hearing if necessary.

Usually, however, that isn't necessary.

"We like people to vote," Noonan said. "I like people to vote."

Authentically Local