Early voting begins in less than two weeks, and it appears Onondaga County’s unaffiliated voters will be a big factor in determining the outcomes. Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said they make up 30 percent of registered voters and are the fastest growing group. Overall, though, Democrats hold enrollment the edge with 37 percent.
“You're seeing a purple county that has trended blue recently, and especially on national and statewide races that is now starting to at least reflect itself in some of the local races.”
Czarny cited last year’s flip of the county legislature, as well as some towns that were former Republican strongholds. Democrats have also done well county-wide in previous years, taking sheriff, comptroller, and county clerk.
Republican voters make up nearly 27 percent of the electorate, and GOP commissioner Kevin Ryan acknowledged the disparity. But he said that doesn’t matter much at the polls.
“Based on numbers, this is a blue county. There are more Democrats than there are Republicans," he said. "In fact there are more not-enrolled voters and there are Republicans. I don't think the enrollment numbers change by virtue of when the elections are held or what elections are on the ballot. I think the bigger issue is turnout.”
He said Republicans generally do a better job of turning out voters in off-year elections. That's why Democrats wanted to move New York’s local elections to even years with congressional and presidential races, he said. That’s what we’re seeing this year, with all county legislature seats up for grabs, in addition to state legislature and governor.
Early voting begins October 24th, which is also the final day to register to vote and to request a mail ballot.
Here are the enrollment numbers from the Board of Elections as of Oct. 1:
DEM 113,110
REP 81,596
CON 5,206
WOR 1.637
N/E (non-enrolled) 93,364
OTH 11,165
TOTAL 306,078
