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 Updated Mar 18, 2026 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… Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver Autumn Jubilee in Rowan County set for Saturday; Sunday events canceled End of an era: NC DMV eliminates stickers, routine paper registration on Oct. 1. Here's why Kannapolis Fire Department hosts Fire Truck Parade, Food Drive, Bloodmobile Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going NC cannabis council considers public consumption policy for THC products Board OK puts business development grant, tax reinvestment fund to work in Cabarrus Morganton, Lenoir residents accuse Winston-Salem's Quality Oil of selling contaminated gas NC family permanently protects 150 acres in Iredell and Alexander counties Concord celebrates 2,125 combined years of service NC kills $9M incentive after Mooresville company failed to deliver on jobs N.C. newborns now screened for two additional disorders Kannapolis beer and BBQ joint to permanently close. Here’s the last chance to visit Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory Will UNC football upset Notre Dame? Three keys for Bill Belichick's Tar Heels this weekend 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 Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts 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^Am Annette Wojcinski of Lockport, pictured Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Derek Gee/Buffalo News kAmx 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 Why Airplane Windows Have A Hidden Three-Pane Design Bipartisan Lawmakers Push Bill to Protect Kennedy Center From Demolition. Bipartisan Lawmakers Push Bill to Protect Kennedy Center From Demolition. When ChatGPT Starts Showing Ads Everywhere When ChatGPT Starts Showing Ads Everywhere Who is Christa Pike? Death row inmate survives botched execution Who is Christa Pike? Death row inmate survives botched execution
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.