State Legislature poised to move local elections to even-numbered years; GOP objects
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrates after declaring victory at her campaign headquarters on election night in Manhattan. Credit: Craig Ruttle
ALBANY — The State Legislature this week is expected to approve a bill to move local elections to even-numbered years in what supporters call a cost-saving switch, but which Republicans argue is aimed at benefiting Democrats.
“We know as advocates for voters that this is good for voters,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of the good-government group Common Cause-NY.
She said it would ease “voter fatigue” of elections now held from March at the village level through November at the state level. She said the measure will drive up New York’s notoriously lower turnout for local elections that can often be as low as 15% to 25% of the electorate.
The measure unveiled Wednesday by the Democratic majorities of the Senate and Assembly would move most local races outside New York City to even-numbered years beginning in 2026. Local officials elected in 2025 would serve a one-year term.
Local elections would then share the spotlight with elections for state Senate, Assembly, statewide offices, Congress and president, which have commanded greater turnout than local elections in odd-numbered years.
The measure would cover town and village boards, mayors, and county legislators and executives, but not district attorneys, judges, county clerks and some other posts for which terms are set under the state constitution. Changing those election dates would require a constitutional amendment.
School board elections and school budget votes are run locally and wouldn’t be changed.
A vote by the Senate and Assembly on the bill is expected Thursday or Friday.
“This is all about voter participation,” said Assemb. Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale), a co-sponsor of the measure. “We will also have a tremendous savings for the taxpayers.”
This is the third year the bill was proposed. It comes after two years in which Republicans energized voters to win seats in the state dominated more than 2-to-1 by Democratic voters. The bill was released early Wednesday, in what was the second-to-last day of the scheduled 2023 legislative session, leaving no time for public hearings or extensive debate.
“It is a heat-seeking missile aimed at Republican-led counties,” said Steven McLaughlin, the Rensselaer County executive and vocal GOP leader. “It is election interference pretending to be voter engagement.”
Assembly Republican leader Will Barclay of Pulaski also sees a partisan motivation.
“If this bill didn’t result in a direct benefit to Democrats, we wouldn’t be talking about it,” Barclay told Newsday. “That’s the reality and that’s how Albany works under one-party rule. There is no legitimate problem which this proposal solves. … This proposal will not improve voting or turnout. It’s simply the latest example of Democrats’ addressing their top priority: Self-preservation.”
The sponsors denied that.
“This is all about letting more voters be heard,” said Sen. James Skoufis (D-Cornwall). “Any other noise out there is hysteria and politics.”
“What are you afraid of?” Skoufis said to McLaughlin’s comments. “Why are you afraid of greater voter turnout?”
Skoufis and Paulin said the recent GOP wins, including an unexpectedly close challenge for the governor’s office in November, had nothing to do with their effort, but noted momentum for it built late in this session. They said they normally prefer to have a greater public debate for such major legislation, but they believed they had to seize the moment.
On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she hadn’t seen the bill and wouldn’t have a decision on whether to sign it into law or veto it until she reviews it.
“If it increases turnout, that’s always better for democracy,” said Hochul, head of the state Democratic Committee. “But I have to see it.”
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
