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Early Voting in Onondaga County Early Voting in Onondaga County

Onondaga County voting advocates aim to educate voters.

By Julia Kelly

KELLY: For the first time in New York State
registered voters can participate in
early voting. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan voters education group, is
raising awareness of early voting in Onondaga County. Treasurer Roberta Miller says it’s everyone’s responsibility to
vote.

MILLER: A lot of times it’s apathy that
wins in this country because sometimes it’s the majority of people that didn’t vote they got the most votes.

KELLY:
Onondaga County has six early voting sites, as long as you’re registered to vote you can cast your ballot at Dewitt Town hall, Clay Town Hall, Van Buren Town Hall
or the Magnarelli
community center. You can also cast an
early ballot at the Southwest Community
Center.

So what do voters have to say?

Kara Foley thinks in theory early voting
is a good policy but it might not be so
effective.

FOLEY: People are busy and get caught
up in day-to-day life and don’t have
time to go vote. So I think as long as
you know it’s made aware like when and
how people should vote I think that’s
the most important step

KELLY: And Miller says
that’s a real problem with local
elections
she and the 80 member League of Women
Voters and Syracuse aims to fix that

MILLER: and local elections are important and people
just don’t realize it you know shouldn’t
just be voting every four years local
elections are the people that service
you every day

KELLY: Absentee ballots are still
an option this November but must be
requested by October 29th. The last day
to register to vote is October 11th.
Julia Kelly for NCC News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS)  — “This isn’t a social club,” said Roberta Miller, treasurer of the League of Women Voters.

Watching the members shuffled into the dining room of Tony’s Family Restaurant on Wednesday afternoon, it might be difficult to believe otherwise.

After a few seconds of chatter, the members got right down to business. The goal of this organization: to educate the community on voting.

But it is not that simple. The non-partisan group holds events to encourage voters to come out to the polls.

 

Members of LWV in a meeting
According to the Onondaga County Board of Elections, the county hasn’t seen an increase in voter turnout since the 2016 election spike.
© 2019 Julia Kelly

Miller said voter education is the most important. She and the League work to spread information about voting changes in New York.

For the first time  in New York state, registered voters are able to vote in an early voting period from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3

Voter turnout in New York State is among the lowest in the country. Miller thinks the early voting period will encourage more people to get to the polls.

“The proof will be in the numbers of people who come out to vote,” said Miller.

Miller said early voting is a good thing, but there’s more that can be done to increase voter turnout. The League of Women Voters advocates for same-day voter registration and other reforms to see growth at the polls.

Absentee ballots are still an option but must be requested before Oct. 29.

In Onondaga County, there are six early voting locations spread out over Clay, Syracuse, Van Buren and LaFayette. If you choose to vote early, you cannot vote on election day.

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