LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (NCC News) – This year’s local election cycle is welcoming New York State interests with five referendums included on this year’s ballot.
The referendums include five proposed state constitutional amendments, including state redistricting procedures, no-excuse absentee voting, and voter registration policies.
The last election year was 2019, and voter turnout was around 33%, said Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County Elections Commissioner.
That’s a low percentage compared to 2020, when the county saw record voter turnout in the presidential election year.
Those who participate in local elections, like Liverpool residents Tom Babosky and Gregg Hamilton, say it carries as much weight as federal and state contests.
“I believe voting is my right,” said Babosky. “I don’t think I’ve ever missed a vote, no matter how minor it was. It’s my right to vote.”
Other voters agreed.
“I think it’s important for people to vote in the local elections,” said Hamilton. “Because that’s where it starts—right here.”
Hamilton and Babosky thought the ballot referendums were publicized pretty well, but could have been better.
“I don’t think it was advertised enough,” Babosky said. “I think they should have explained it more.”
Czarny and his team work to ensure the elections inspectors remind voters to turn over their ballots, and cast their vote on these referendums.
“We instruct all of our elections inspectors when they’re handing out the ballot to the voters to remind them to vote on both sides,” said Czarny.
Czarny also said he hopes Election Day this year runs smoothly, and people engage with the referendums properly. He says early voting has done well with this already.
“It’s actually run pretty smoothly,” he said. “I better knock-on wood!”
Polls are open until 9 p.m. tonight across Onondaga County.
