Elections Professional and Activist
Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny estimates 24 to 25 percent of registered Democrats came out to the polls in Thursday’s state and local primary. That’s a lot more than usual for a state and local election.
“It was 8 percent in 2014, 8.6 percent the last time we had a governor’s primary,” said Czarny. “So to have 24 percent in Onondaga County is incredible.”
https://www.wrvo.org/elections/2018-09-18/turnout-for-state-primary-surges-in-2018
I talk about what is going on in the 53rd Senate race and City Court judge race at the Onondaga County Board of Elections this week with absentees and affidavit counts. As always if you have a question submit it live or afterward and I will try and answer it.
Onondaga County Board of Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny says there are 890 absentee ballots that need to be counted which includes parts of Onondaga and Oneida counties as well as all of Madison County.
He expects more absentees will continue to come in over the next week.
“As they come in from out of state or ones that we’re mailed in late or ones that we’re dropped off at the polling places. So, we’ll know more numbers next week. Most of the boards are going to be opening up absentee ballots next Thursday so we’ll have a final result then,” he told Spectrum News.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2018/09/14/may-over-valesky-state-senate
Czarny said while voter turnout is “normally light,” he said it could be different this year. He said normally turnout on Primary Day is about 10 to 15 percent of eligible voters.
“We’ve seen across the country an increase in turnout in primary elections and during the June primary, we saw almost double the turnout we saw two years ago,” he said.
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/voters-head-to-the-polls-for-primary-elections-across-new-york
To vote in the Reform Party primaries you must be registered in the Reform Party or not a member of any other political party.
“This is a new policy of the Reform Party of New York State and is only relevant to that party,” said Onondaga County Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny.
tate lawmakers this year decided on a Thursday vote because the anniverary of the 9/11 attacks and Rosh Hashana both fell on Tuesday. Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said his office did get a few calls this week from confused voters, but he doesn’t expect it to have a massive impact on turnout. Instead, he sees a more active electorate with choices in several races affecting turnout.
“I think what we’re seeing is a rededication to local elections and rededication that local primaries and elections count in the voter’s mind. At least that’s what I hope,” said Czarny. “And I do think we will see a slight uptick in September from 2014.”
Last minute tips for Primary Day. Polls are open from noon to 9pm. Get sample ballots, check your registration and your polling place at http://www.ongov.net/elections. Go Vote! Make me busy today.
This Thursday September 13th noon to 9 is the state and local Primary Day for Onondaga County. I talk about what you need to know to be able to vote. Visit http://www.ongov.net/elections for more information.
It can be very confusing for voters, said Dustin Czarny, an Onondaga County Board of Elections commissioner. In most other political parties, voters must be enrolled in that political party to vote in a primary, he said.
In Onondaga County, the Reform Party’s primary rules mean more than 72,000 people not enrolled in a political party could vote in the Reform Party’s primary races, Czarny said. The Reform Party itself has 47 people enrolled in the party in the county, according to board of elections data.
“Everything is the same except for the day,” Czarny said .
Polls across the state will be open from noon to 9 pm. In Onondaga County, Czarny says all polling places will be open, there are no consolidated polling places.
Dustin M. Czarny