Officials expect higher voter totals

TRI-COUNTY AREA--Voter turn-out for a mid-term election is usually much less than a presidential election year.
Amy Daines, Republican commissioner for the Yates County Board of Elections said, "This year we are expecting voters to participate nearly at the same level of a presidential election- which can be around 80 percent of registered voters. We have had a huge turn-out for absentee ballots so we are expecting large numbers for election day."
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. This year voters will decide on the state governor's race, lieutenant governor, comptroller, attorney general along with a United States Senator and state Supreme Court Justices. Local, contested races include the 23rd Congressional District and the 58th State Senate District.Those races include Congressman Tom Reed vs. Tracy Mitrano and State Senator Tom O'Mara vs. Amanda Kirchgessner. Readers will find The Observer's candidate information for these races on page two and three this week. This election also includes a number of un-contested races with only one candidate running.
In the town of Starkey, voters will decide if the town board will change the position of highway superintendent from an elected post to an appointed position.
In Schuyler County, several legislators are on the ballot. The contested District 6 is a race between incumbent Phil Barnes and local businessman Brian Eslinger.
Polling locations can be checked online with the county's Board of Elections office or online site.
Daines reminded people to vote. She said, "Every vote counts and every vote matters."