An election for a lifetime, no matter how old (or young) you are By Tim O'Shei News Staff Reporter Nov 3, 2020 Nov 3, 2020 0 From upper left, clockwise: Michael Parkot, Jillian Hanesworth, Thomas Ballard, Annette Wojcinski, Robert Mata and Margot Voisinet. Derek Gee/Buffalo News Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Tim O'Shei News Staff Reporter Robert Mata spoke softly, but his patriotism shouted loudly.kAm%96 hf\J62C\@=5 (@C=5 (2C xx G6E6C2?[ H9@ 7@F89E :? tFC@A6 282:?DE E96 }2K:D[ 5C@G6 9:D ECF4< E@ E96 (6DE $6?642 r@>>F?:EJ r6?E6C @? E96 >@C?:?8 @7 $2EFC52J[ ~4E] ac] xE H2D E96 7:CDE 52J @7 62C=J G@E:?8 :? }6H *@C<[ 2?5 |2E2 H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ >:DD :E]k^AmkAm“x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ =6E 8@ @7 E9:D G@E6[” D2:5 |2E2[ H9@ H@C6 2 3=F6 32==42A H:E9 H9:E6 DE2CD @? E96 4C@H? 2?5 C65 2?5 H9:E6 DEC:A6D @? E96 3C:>] wF?4965 2?5 2:565 3J 9:D 42?6[ |2E2 H2=<65 E@ E96 324< @7 E96 =:?6[ H9:49 H2D e__ 766E 7C@> E96 A@==:?8 A=246 2?5 23@FE h_ >:?FE6D =@?8]k^Am World War II veteran Robert Mata, 97, outside his West Seneca home, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Derek Gee/Buffalo News kAm|2E2 :D @?6 @7 >:==:@?D @7 G@E6CD H9@ 5@?’E H2?E E@ =6E 8@ @7 E96:C G@E6D] tDA64:2==J E9:D J62C] (:E9 E96 4@F?ECJ 5:G:565 @G6C 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> E96 92?5=:?8 @7 E96 A2?56>:4 E@ 4=:>2E6 492?86[ E9:D :D 2? 6=64E:@? F?=:<6 2?J :? @FC =:76E:>6D] %92E’D ECF6 :7 J@F’C6 `g 2?5 2 7:CDE\E:>6 G@E6C @C :7 J@F’C6 2 >6>36C @7 E96 D@\42==65 vC62E6DE v6?6C2E:@?[ =:<6 |2E2[ H9@ H2D =65 E@ E96 7C@?E @7 E96 =:?6 E92E >@C?:?8 3J 2 H@>2? H9@ 42>6 E@ 9:D D:56 2?5 H2?E65 E@ 96=A 9:>[ 2?5 3J 5@K6?D @7 G@E6CD H9@ H:==:?8=J 82G6 FA E96:C DA@ED]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County administrator to step down Social Security COLA 2027: How much could your benefits increase? Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems Boones Mill obtains grant for new park project 1 killed, 4 injured in crash involving Abingdon school bus after football game Rocky Mount asks residents to voluntarily conserve water Judge Michael Urbanski to retire after long tenure on the federal bench Sale of Hotel Roanoke Conference Center finalized as Virginia Tech prepares to sell whole building Florida's flop, Alabama lead college football Week 5 winners and losers Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems David Hoffmann: A better chorus for the communities we serve Federal grant to fund Route 122 improvement study at Smith Mountain Lake Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast Tri-Area Community Health announces new behavioral health director kAm“x E9@F89E x 925 E@ H2:E 2 =@?8 E:>6 E@ G@E6[ 2?5 x H2D C625J E@ 5@ :E[” D2:5 |2E2[ 255:?8 96 D9@H65 FA E92E 7:CDE 52J @7 A@==:?8 @FE @7 2 D6?D6 @7 5FEJ] “x 2=H2JD G@E65 D:?46 x 42>6 9@>6 7C@> E96 D6CG:46] x’> 8@:?8 E@ G@E6 2D =@?8 2D x 42?]”k^Am Robert Mata of West Seneca talks about why voting is important to him. Derek Gee / Buffalo News kAm(6 2D<65 G@E6CD 24C@DD (6DE6C? }6H *@C< E@ D92C6 H:E9 FD H9J E96J 2C6 >2<:?8 :E 2 AC:@C:EJ E@ G@E6 E9:D J62C] (6 5:5 ?@E 2D< E96> H9@ E96J 2C6 G@E:?8 7@C[ 2?5 =2C86=J 5:5?’E >6?E:@? !C6D:56?E %CF>A @C 9:D @AA@?6?E[ 7@C>6C ':46 !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?] %96D6 2C6 E96:C H@C5D[ 65:E65 7@C DA246 2?5 4=2C:EJ]k^Am k9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8m%9@>2D q2==2C5[ fd[ C6E:C65 4@?DECF4E:@? 4@>A2?J @H?6C 2?5 7@C>6C pC>J D6C862?E[ {2<6 ':6Hk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am Thomas Ballard of Lake View, pictured Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Derek Gee/Buffalo News kAmtG6CJ 4:E:K6? D9@F=5 G@E6] x7 J@F 5@?VE G@E6[ J@F 42?VE 4@>A=2:?] p?5 x E9:?< :EVD :>A@CE2?E E92E J@F G@:46 J@FC @A:?:@? @? H9@ J@F H2?E E@ =625 J@FC 4@F?ECJ[ @C H9@ J@F H2?E E@ 36 J@FC 4@?8C6DD>2? @C J@FC =@42= 2=56C>6? @C DFA6CG:D@C] x >62?[ J@F 92G6 E@ 92G6 2 G@:46 2?5 J@F 92G6 E@ FD6 J@FC G@:46[ 2?5 G@:46 :D E9C@F89 2? 6=64E:@?]k^AmkAmsFC:?8 >J E:>6 :? E96 pC>J 7C@> `hec E@ `hef[ x H2D DE2E:@?65 :? v6C>2?J 2?5 EC2G6=65 2== E9C@F89 tFC@A6] uC@> >J E:>6 :? E96 D6CG:46[ J@F 42? C62==J D66 9@H E9:?8D 42? 27764E J@F 2?5 27764E @FC 4@F?ECJ] *@F =@@< 324< 2?5 D66 9@H A6@A=6 2C6 =@@<:?8 2E FD 7@C =6256CD9:A 2?5 7@C FD 7@C 96=A] (6 ?665 D@>63@5J =625:?8 E96 4@F?ECJ H9@ 42? E2<6 42C6 @7 E92E] *@F H2?E D@>63@5J H9@ :D 2 5646?E[ :?E6==:86?E[ 9@?6DE A6CD@?[ 2?5 H9@ 92D E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 :ED A6@A=6 2E 962CE] %92E 2=@?6 H@F=5 >2<6 J@F G@E6]k^Am Thomas Ballard of Lake View talks about why voting is important to him. Derek Gee / Buffalo News kAmx 92G6 G@E65 :? 6G6CJ 6=64E:@? D:?46 x H2D 6=:8:3=6] xE’D 2=H2JD 366? :>A@CE2?E[ 3FE E9:D J62C :D 2? 6IEC6>6 6I2>A=6[ x E9:?<[ 3642FD6 @7 E96 H2J E9:?8D 92G6 366? 8@:?8]k^Amk9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8my:==:2? w2?6DH@CE9[ af[ A@6E[ qF772=@k^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am Jillian Hanesworth outside her Buffalo home, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Derek Gee/Buffalo News kAm'@E:?8 92D 366? G6CJ FC86?E E@ >6 2?5 >J 4@>>F?:EJ] p =@E @7 FD 2C6 282:?DE E96 492?86D E92E 92G6 366? 92AA6?:?8[ D@ H6’G6 366? E2<:?8 2 =@@< 2E @FC @H? G2=F6D 2D :?5:G:5F2=D[ 2D 2 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 E2<:?8 2 D:56]k^Am kAmx H:== 2=H2JD G@E6] qFE x 2=D@ 42? F?56CDE2?5 H9J :E :D 7CFDEC2E:?8] %96 DJDE6> @H6D :E E@ FD E@ 24EF2==J H@C< E96 H2J :EVD DFAA@D65 E@ H@C<i :? 2 H2J E92E 36?67:ED 6G6CJ3@5J[ :D?VE D@ C24:DE[ 2?5 5@6D?VE 9FCE A6@A=6 E92E 2C6?VE C:49 2?5 E92E 5@?VE 92G6 65F42E:@? 2?5 E92E 5@?VE DA62< E96 >2;@C:EJ =2?8F286] (6VC6 5@:?8 @FC A2CEi (6VC6 G@E:?8 2?5 E9:?8D 2C6?VE 492?8:?8[ 2?5 H96? E96 DJDE6> :D 56D:8?65 E92E H2J[ 2?5 E92E 92AA6?D 7@C D@ =@?8[ :E :D 2=>@DE 5:D962CE6?:?8 E@ G@E6] qFE @FC 2?46DE@CD 7@F89E 7@C E9:D 2?5 5:65 7@C E9:D] *@F H@F=5?VE 5:6 7@C D@>6E9:?8 E92E J@F 5:5?VE <?@H 4@F=5 H@C< 2?5 4@F=5 492?86 E9:?8D]k^Am Renowned poet Jillian Hanesworth talks about why voting is so important to her. Derek Gee / Buffalo News kAmx 925 2 4@@= 6IA6C:6?46 G@E:?8 E9:D J62C 2E E96 $@F=D E@ E96 !@==D #2==J @? E96 7:CDE 52J @7 62C=J G@E:?8] x A6C7@C>65 2 A@6> 2E E96 C2==J[ 2?5 H6 >2C4965 5@H? E@ E96 v=@C:2 y] !2C<D r@>>F?:EJ r6?E6C[ 2?5 H6 2== G@E65] xE’D E96 36DE H2J E92E H6 42? C64=2:> @FC A@H6C]k^Am k9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8m|:4926= !2C<@E[ bh[ 72C>6C 2?5 A9JD:4:2? 2DD:DE2?E[ r@C7Fk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am Michael Parkot, a physician assistant who also runs a pig farm, at his home in Corfu, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Derek Gee/Buffalo News kAm|J H:76 2?5 x 2?5 @FC E9C66 49:=5C6? 2C6 2 >:55=6\4=2DD 72>:=J =:G:?8 @? 2 72>:=J 72C>] '@E:?8 :D :>A@CE2?E E@ >6 3642FD6 :E’D 9@H J@F >2<6 2 DE2E6>6?E 23@FE H92E <:?5 @7 2 4@F?ECJ J@F H2?E E@ =:G6 :?[ 3FE 2=D@ H92E <:?5 @7 4@F?ECJ 5@ J@F H2?E J@FC <:5D E@ =:G6 :?]k^Am kAmx? }6H *@C<[ 3642FD6 :E’D ?@E 2 32EE=68C@F?5 DE2E6[ A6@A=6 >2J D2J[ “~9[ H6==[ >J G@E6 5@6D?VE 6G6? >2EE6C]” qFE :7 J@FVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 H:==:?8 E@ G@E6 E@ 492?86 D@>6E9:?8 – @C AFE J@FC G@:46 @FE E96C6 2?5 E2<6 `_ >:?FE6D @FE @7 J@FC 52J E@ 4@>>:E E@ 492?8:?8 D@>6E9:?8 – E96? 5@?VE 4@>A=2:? 23@FE :E 7@C E96 ?6IE 7@FC J62CD]k^Am Michael Parkot of Corfu talks about why voting is important to him. Derek Gee / Buffalo News kAmw2G6 H6 6G6C C62==J =:G65 FA E@ E96 7C2>6CD’ 4@?46AE :? E96 s64=2C2E:@? @7 x?56A6?56?46 @7 2== >6? 2C6 4C62E65 6BF2=n ~FC 4@F?ECJ 92D 2=H2JD 4=2:>65 E@ 36 E96 =2?5 @7 E96 7C66 2?5 6BF2= @AA@CEF?:EJ[ 2?5 6G6CJ3@5J EC62E65 E96 D2>6] (6VG6 ?6G6C C62==J =:G65 FA E@ E92E[ 2?5 H6VC6 86EE:?8 7FCE96C 2?5 7FCE96C 2H2J 7C@> E92E]k^AmkAm(6’C6 2E 2 4C:E:42= EFC?:?8 A@:?E :? E9:D 6=64E:@?] tG6CJ3@5J :D D@ 5:G:565] xE’D 2 D25 DE2E6 @7 2772:CD E@ >6 E92E A6@A=6 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ 5:G@C46 E96:C 72>:=J @G6C E96:C A@=:E:4D] w@H 92G6 H6 8@EE6? E@ E9:D A@:?En %92E’D 2 9F86 BF6DE:@? E92E xV> 2D<:?8 >JD6=7 H:E9@FE 92G:?8 2 C62==J 8@@5 2?DH6C 7@C :E]k^Am k9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8m|2C8@E '@:D:?6E[ `g[ C6E2:= H@C<6C[ z6?>@C6k^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am Margot Voisinet of the City of Tonawanda, outside the early polling place at the Kenmore Municipal Building, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Derek Gee/Buffalo News kAmx 766= =:<6 H6VC6 8@:?8 324<H2C5 :? E:>6] (6 H6C6 8@:?8 7@CH2C5 – H6 H6C6 5@:?8 C62==J H6== – 2?5 x 766= =:<6 6G6CJE9:?8 42G65 :? @? :ED6=7] $4:6?46 :D G6CJ C62=] r=:>2E6 492?86 :D G6CJ >F49 C62=] %96 4@C@?2G:CFD :D G6CJ >F49 C62=] %9@FD2?5D 2?5 E9@FD2?5D @7 A6@A=6 92G6 5:65 7C@> :E[ 2?5 x 2> G@E:?8 E96 H2J E92E x 2> 3642FD6 x H2?E 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ :D 8@:?8 E@ 24E:G6=J 255C6DD D:EF2E:@?D 2D H92E E96J 2C6]k^Am kAmx D2H :? E96 ?6HD E92E D@>6 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D H2?E E@ ?@E 2==@H D2>6\D6I 4@FA=6D E@ 25@AE 3642FD6 E96J E9:?< :E AFED @FE 2 325 :>286 E@ 49:=5C6?[ H9:49 x 5@?VE 36=:6G6] x’> 25@AE65[ 2?5 xVG6 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ 25@AE] vC@H:?8 FA[ x >256 DFC6 E@ =62C? 23@FE E96 7@DE6C DJDE6> :? p>6C:42[ H9:49 :D ?@E G6CJ 8@@5] xVG6 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ 25@AE — E@ 4@>6 7F== 4:C4=6] p?5 x H@F=5 G6CJ >F49 =:<6 E@ <66A 82J >2CC:286 =682=:K65] x H@F=5 G6CJ >F49 =:<6 E@ D66 >6[ 2D 2 H@>2?[ 92G6 E96 564:D:@? E@ 5@ H92E x A=62D6 H:E9 >J @H? 3@5J C2E96C E92? 92G6 :E 36 E96 564:D:@? @7 D@ >2?J @E96C A6@A=6]k^Am First-time voter Margot Voisinet of Tonawanda describes why voting is important to her. Derek Gee / Buffalo News kAm|J A2C6?ED 25@AE65 >6 7C@> $@FE9 z@C62 2?5 3C@F89E >6 @G6C 96C6 D@ x 4@F=5 92G6 2 36EE6C =:76] $@ >2?J @E96C A6@A=6 4@>6 E@ p>6C:42 D@ E96J 42? 92G6 2 36EE6C =:76] x H2?E 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ :D 8@:?8 E@ ECJ 2?5 >2<6 E9:D 4@F?ECJ 36EE6C]k^Am k9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8mp??6EE6 (@;4:?D<:[ d`[ 7:?2?4:2= 25>:?:DEC2E@C[ {@4<A@CEk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^AmkAmx 92G6 G@E65 :? 2=>@DE 6G6CJ 6=64E:@? D:?46 x 3642>6 6=:8:3=6 2E `g] %96 H2J x H2D C2:D65[ :E H2D ?6G6C 6G6? 2 BF6DE:@?] *@F EFC?65 `g[ 2?5 J@F DE2CE65 G@E:?8] xE H2D A2CE @7 36:?8 2 4:E:K6?i *@F 92G6 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6j :E’D J@FC 4:G:4 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ]k^Am kAmx DE:== E9:?< :EVD E@ G@:46 J@FC @A:?:@?] tG6? H96? :E’D 2 7@C68@?6 4@?4=FD:@? :? }6H *@C<[ H96E96C J@F 28C66 H:E9 E92E @C ?@E[ :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ DA62< @? H92E J@F 766=] x E9:?< (6DE6C? }6H *@C< 5@6D?VE C67=64E E96 D2>6 EJA6 @7 G:D:@? 7@C }6H *@C< E92E E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 DE2E6 5@6D] $@>6E:>6D :E >2<6D :E 5:77:4F=E 7@C >6 E@ 86E >J <:5D – ad[ aa 2?5 `g – E@ G@E6] x 92G6 @?6 H9@ D2:5[ “(92E 5@6D :E >2EE6Cn xE’D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 4@F?E 2?JH2J]” xE’D 92C5 E@ 492?86 E92E[ 3FE x E9:?< :EVD DE:== :>A@CE2?E E@ G@:46 J@FC @A:?:@?]k^Am Annette Wojcinski of Lockport talks about why voting is important to her. Derek Gee / Buffalo News kAmxV> 8@:?8 E@ G@E6 7@C E96 A6CD@? E92E x E9:?< :D 8@:?8 E@ 5@ E96 36DE ;@3 7@C E96 4@F?ECJ 32D65 @? H92E :DDF6D x E9:?< 2C6 :>A@CE2?E] x 5@?VE G@E6 A2CEJ =:?6D[ 6G6C] x G@E6 32D65 @? E96 A6CD@? 2?5 E96 :562D E92E E96J C6AC6D6?E]k^Am kAmk6>mvFDE@ t5:E@C %@?: k^6>mk6>m#F36CE@ 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D DE@CJ]k^6>mk^Am 0 comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Voter’s guide to the 2020 election Polls are open everywhere in New York State from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here's what you need to know for Election Day this year. A view of the polls on Election Day 2020 A number of voters were out early on Election Day across Western New York. Watch Now: Related Video The 10 safest cities in the United States A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond A1 Minute! 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Voter’s guide to the 2020 election Polls are open everywhere in New York State from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here's what you need to know for Election Day this year.
A view of the polls on Election Day 2020 A number of voters were out early on Election Day across Western New York.
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond
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