election blueprint

WAER’s staff of reporters has been covering the election through the COVID-19 pandemic, the fight for racial justice, and the fiscal challenges on local and national levels--for months. We talk to our reporters on what they've heard throughout the election cycle and what they heard at the polls on Election Day.

WAER reporters fanned out across Onondaga County Tuesday to catch voters as they cast their ballots at their polling places.  Most sites were fairly busy considering more than 59,000 people voted during the nine days of early voting, and more than 53,000 submitted absentee ballots. 

Race relations became a top issue on the minds of many around Central New York with local protests after the killing of George Floyd and police treatment of people of color.  In WAER’s Your Election Blueprint project, it was among the top interests of people heading into the election.  

“I'm like scared of here," said Deneka Delee.  "I have to watch my back and I wish all the shooting and and all this (stuff) has to stop. We have kids.”

You don't have to listen hard to hear their voices; You don't have to look hard to see their struggle

Those who’ve passed by the corner of South Salina and Colvin Streets have probably noticed a few tables and signs set up outside of the storefront across from the post office. Project Vote has spent the past few months educating, registering, and transporting people to vote. 

It can be difficult for voters to discern what’s truth and what’s not in campaign ads, and perhaps there’s no better example than in the race for the 24th congressional district.  WAER News takes a look at the ads that could be defining the tense race between incumbent Republican John Katko and Democratic challenger Dana Balter in the final days of voting.

 Onondaga County’s Election Commissioners say they were thrilled to be caught off guard yesterday when droves of people turned up for a third day of early voting. Republican Election Commissioner Michelle Sardo jokes how this year’s turnout is already unlike any other.

Twenty-fourth district Democratic Congressional Candidate Dana Balter is accusing incumbent John Katko of crossing a line with negative and misleading campaign ads.   

Early voting starts Saturday in Onondaga County, but the six locations across 800 square miles could post challenges for those who don’t have transportation and still want to avoid potentially long lines on election day. 

Governor Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is figuring heavily into the race for the 128th assembly district, with both candidates leveling varying amounts of criticism for different reasons.  The district includes the southern and eastern portions of Syracuse, as well as Dewitt, Onondaga, Salina, and the Onondaga Nation.  WAER News caught up with incumbent Democrat Pam Hunter and Republican challenger Stephanie Jackson.