Governor signs bill moving most local elections to even-numbered years

Association of Counties worries local races will take backseat to state, federal elections

Gov. Kathy Hochul today signed legislation that would move many of the local town and county elections from odd-numbered years to even ones when there tends to be a much bigger voter turnout for state and federal races.

But the New York State Association of Counties, which opposed the change, said the local races will now get less attention from many voters.

“At a time when we should be keeping the divisiveness at the federal and state levels out of our local communities, this bill does the opposite, burying the local issues that impact New Yorkers’ daily lives at the back of exceedingly long ballots,” said Stephen Acquario, NYSAC executive director.

Gov. Hochul said the change will result in a much bigger voter turnout for residents to be heard on local issues and candidates, while reducing some costs for holding elections.

“Every eligible New Yorker deserves the right to participate in the democratic process without unnecessary barriers,” Hochul said in a statement. “By signing this legislation, we are taking a significant step towards expanding access to the ballot box and promoting a more inclusive democracy. This is a meaningful first step and I would support a constitutional amendment to align all election years, to save taxpayer dollars and avoid voter fatigue.”

This legislation impacts all elections for which the dates can be changed through legislative action, Hochul said. Changing election dates for certain offices, including judgeships and offices in any city in the state, must be done through a constitutional amendment.

Hochul announced her support for a future amendment to the New York State Constitution that would align elections for all offices, which she said would be a fiscally responsible approach that would reduce the taxpayer cost of election administration by avoiding the need for elections to be held every single year.

By consolidating more elections in even-numbered years when most voters are already planning to participate in an election, this change will increase voter participation in important local races, Hochul said.

Voter participation in elections held in even-numbered years in New York State is substantially higher than participation during odd-numbered years. For example, millions more New Yorkers participated in elections in 2020, when approximately 64 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots, than in 2021, when just 25 percent of eligible voters turned out to take part in local elections around the state, she said.

“Moving local elections to even years will boost turnout, reduce voter fatigue, and minimize stressors on the local Boards of Elections,” said Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner in a press release from the governor’s office. “It’s a win for the voters, who will hear directly from local candidates about local issues. We are thrilled Governor Hochul signed this pro-voter reform in law.”