MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced May 30, the county has received nearly $250,000 from the HAVA Cares Act. The act provides a new stream of funding via the state Board Elections to help "protect the health and safety of employees, inspectors and voters." The funds will help offset administrative costs of the 2020 federal election, such as mailing and providing absentee ballots, automated counters, PPE supplies, and deep cleaning services of polling sites. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the county board of elections is encouraging residents to vote by absentee ballot for all elections taking place on June 23. Voters eligible to participate in the June 23 elections have been mailed an absentee ballot application with return postage paid. The completed absentee ballot application must be returned to the board of elections as soon as possible. It must be received by the local board postmarked no later than June 16, if the voter wants to receive their ballot by mail. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.