Authorities intervened in the incident that took place at the polling place at the Finger Lakes Mall on Monday after it was reported that an unauthorized person had entered the place. Cayuga County Board of Elections officials said law enforcement, including the New York State Police and the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Department, were called to the area early in the afternoon to investigate.

After reviewing security footage, conducting an investigation, and interviewing Board of Elections staff, law enforcement concluded that no criminal activity occurred. According to the Board of Elections, no ballots or voting records were available at the time because early voting had ended and the site was only being prepared for Election Day.

Commissioners John Camardo, representing the Republican Party, and Keith Batman, representing the Democratic Party, assured the public that election integrity remained intact. They emphasized that all voting machines were secure, locked in a separate room and individually sealed. With no evidence that the seals of the locked room or voting machine had been tampered with, security measures were not compromised.

“While this is an unfortunate event, it will have no impact on our elections and we look forward to tomorrow, Election Day,” commissioners said.

The incident at the Finger Lakes Mall drew attention in Cayuga County, but officials are urging voters to trust the safety measures in place.

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