New legislation signed by the governor will bring changes to
future election cycles across New York State.
The bill will move many local,
county and town elections from odd years to even years.
Natalie Kutchko explains why it's drawing criticism from some lawmakers.
Natalie Hi Theresa. The legislation was signed into law Friday
just ahead of the holiday weekend.
It shares support from Democrats that includes those in Monroe
County.
However, some in the Republican Party disagree and share concerns
with voter turn out and significance of local issues and
races on the ballot.
By 2025, a number of county and town races will
move from odd election years to even.
While Governor Hochul has said she hopes to boost voter
turn out as part of the decision,
some members of the Republican Party feel it will do
the opposite.
So while you're moving some elections off the odd years,
you're going to still have odd year elections,
but now they're even less important so you're going to
only dilute and diminish the turn out for the offices
that are still on odd years when you have an
even expanded ballot. Longer makes voters take more time in
the ballot box.
You're going to have even more fallout when the bill
came before the state Assembly Over the summer,
State Assembly member Josh Jensen proposed an amendment that would
allow for local governments to opt into the change as
opposed to a mandate.
He says races like county legislature and town board may
get lost on the ballot.
Meantime, there's support from Monroe County Democrats.
In part of a statement,
chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee Stephen Devey says
the legislation will make it easier to vote,
saying, quote, democracy works best when all eligible voters can
participate,
and this law moves us closer to achieving that.
In a statement after this was signed into law,
the governor called this a meaningful first step,
adding she'd support a constitutional amendment to align all election
years sometime in the future.
Again, the law will affect state elections,
select ones beginning in 2025.
Theresa, back to you.