N.Y. Looking At The Last Year Of Proper Local Elections

There are many essential components to the democratic process, but the most important is the one we do each November: vote in our general elections. I encourage all eligible voters to use this opportunity to make their own voices heard and weigh in on these crucial decisions. Greater participation means better representation, and we all benefit from a thriving electorate.

This year, early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 25 and runs until Sunday, Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, so be sure to identify your voting location ahead of time and make some time to weigh in on your local representatives. Information about where you can vote can be found here, and you can access information about your local board of elections here.

Unfortunately, for many parts of New York state, the 2025 local elections will likely be the last of its kind. The Legislature recently passed a bill that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law to move most elections from odd-numbered years to even ones.

The Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, upheld that law despite challenges to its constitutionality. This means many important local races taking place during these odd-numbered years will be grouped in with, and drowned out by, higher-profile state and national elections. Moving the calendar for local elections was an unnecessary and partisan maneuver forced upon voters under the guise of cost-savings and improving turnout.

The reality is Democrats believe shifting all voting into even-years improves their chances at the polls. For county, town, and village candidates running for offices and the municipal issues that deserve attention, it’s the worst possible outcome. Voters will almost certainly hear more about national and statewide priorities, rather than community-specific matters that more directly impact their day-to-day lives, such as zoning, schools, or infrastructure.

The bottom line is this: Pushing local candidates and concerns into even years and further down the ballot trivializes their importance, both literally – as some races are left blank on lengthy ballots; and figuratively – as the sheer volume in presidential and gubernatorial campaigns overwhelms races that struggle to be heard.

With legal action still pending—the matter could reach the U.S. Supreme Court or face a separate federal lawsuit—it is unclear if we will ever be able to spotlight local races like we have done for decades. Simply put, this legislation makes little sense from a practical standpoint, and the alleged benefits to voter participation do not appear to outweigh the likelihood these high-profile races will overshadow many local issues.

Regardless of what number the year ends in, voting matters. It is one of the great tools we have to decide the direction of our communities, our state and our nation. I will be out there voting this November, and I hope to see you participating in the process as well.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at [email protected]. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or X at @WillABarclay.

Print this entry