A series of reforms in New York election laws were passed by lawmakers as their session ended last week … and they’re being called the most consequential in decades by Onondaga County Election officials.
Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny says 3behind-the-scenes changes can really help people vote.
“Allowing people to change their party so they can vote in the presidential primary next year; allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister now, so when they turn 18 they can vote; and also people move from county to county, and if they’re not able to make the registration window, they can go and vote by affidavit ballot.”
Some of the reform details include: a later date, February 14th , to change party registration; and early voting that will start with this year’s November election. The reforms are all intended to increase participation … they will not, however, have any impact on tomorrow’s primary election. Czarny urges people to vote, since the primary often is more telling than the general election.
“These elections to determine the nominees for the democratic are going to be the overwhelming favorites to be your representatives in the fall elections. The same can be said for Republicans out in Elbridge, Lysander and Tully as well (and other towns. So if you’re thinking about voting, this is your first shot at determining who those nominees are that are going to be the ones that will more-than-likely be your representatives.”
The primary, as you may know, is done by party to select nominees. Democrats have choices in several county and city positions; Republicans vote in several town races; there are also chances for members of the Independence, Working Families, and Conservative parties to help select candidates. Primary voting takes place Noon to 9:00 p.m. tomorrow.
(Primary Races by Party Below)
DETAIL OF RECENT VOTING REFORMS IN NYS
(Source: Onondaga County Election Commissioner)
- Early Voting: New York will be the 39th State to have a form of Early voting starting this general Election. Nine days and 2 full weekends will be available in every county for the convenience of voters.
- Unified June Primary: New York will no longer be the only state in the Nation with a separate federal and local primary. Moving to a unified primary in June will not only save approximately $25 million dollars state wide, it will allow the voters more time between primary and general election to make informed decisions.
- Party Enrollment Date Change: No longer will voters have to change their parties almost 11 months ahead of a primary. On or before February 14th of each year a voter can choose to fall in love with the party of their choice by enrolling in that party and be eligible to vote in the primary later in June.
- Electronic Poll Books and On Demand Ballot Printing: This was essential for making Early Voting work but will also help on Election Day. This technology upgrade will save thousands of dollars for each Board of Election by eliminating printing costs as well as overtime by staff with hundreds of staff hours saved each election.
- Universal Transfers of Registrations: No longer will voters who move right before an election have to waste time on court orders or risk having their affidavit vote not counted. In our mobile and modern society this change can save the votes of thousands of voters statewide.
VOTERS IN 5 PARTIES HAVE PRIMARIES IN ONONDAGA COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC
Onondaga County
Legislator – 7th District (vote for 1)
Joey Chiarenza
Mary T Kuhn
Legislator – 15th District (vote for 1)
Misse Ross
Bill Kinne
Legislator – 16th District (vote for 1)
Charles E Garland
Vernon M Williams Jr
City of Syracuse
Councilor-at-Large (vote for 2)
Steven P Thompson
Michael Greene
Rita M Paniagua
Commissioner of Education (vote for 4)
Dan Romeo
Twiggy Billue
Tamica Chachee Barnett
Katie Sojewicz
Mark D Muhammad
Councilor -3rd District (vote for 1)
Chol Majok
Emad Rahim
Bryn Lovejoy-Grinnell
REPUBLICAN
Town of Cicero
Supervisor (vote for 1)
William H Meyer Jr
Chester A Dudzinski Jr
Town Councilor (vote for 2)
Michael J Becallo
Nancy L White
Richard E Cushman
Town of Elbridge
Town Councilor (vote for 2)
Todd Platten
Andrew J Wormuth
Floyd C Duger
Town of Lysander
Supervisor (vote for 1)
Robert A Wicks
Joseph P Saraceni
Town of Tully
Supervisor (vote for 1)
Frank Speziale Jr
John C Masters
CONSERVATIVE
Onondaga County
Legislator -1st District (vote for 1)
Brian F May
Opportunity to Ballot
Town of Lysander
Supervisor (vote for 1)
Robert Wicks
Opportunity to Ballot
Justice (vote for 1)
Charles J Mantione Jr
Opportunity to Ballot
Councilor (vote for 2)
Jeffrey J Kudarauskas
Eugene F Dinsmore
Opportunity to Ballot
WORKING FAMILIES
Onondaga County
Legislator – 7th District (vote for 1)
Mary T Kuhn
Opportunity to Ballot
Legislator – 9th District (vote for 1)
Gina Iliev
Opportunity to Ballot
INDEPENDENCE
Onondaga County
Legislator – 1st District (vote for 1)
Brian F May
Opportunity to Ballot
Town of Lysander
Supervisor (vote for 1)
Opportunity to Ballot
Justice (vote for 1)
Charles J Mantione Jr
Opportunity to Ballot
Town Councilor (vote for 2)
Peter J Moore
Jeffrey J Kudarauskas
Opportunity to Ballot
Town of Salina
Councilor – 1st Ward (vote for 1)
Nicholas R Paro
Opportunity to Ballot
