Early voting begins this weekend

FINGER LAKES--The general election this fall promises to be a significant moment to determine policies in New York state. Every four years, the senior leadership team in Albany is up for election. The governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, and attorney general all stand for election or re-election.
Voters in Yates County will be electing a representative to the U.S. Congress for the newly formed 24th Congressional District.
Additionally, there will be elections for a U.S. Senator, two state Supreme Court Judges, a New York Senator and a New York Assembly member. In the county, there will be an election for coroner and various town board members' unfinished terms and town justices.
The Yates County Board of Elections reports that the gubernatorial elections typically have the second-best turnout, only exceeded by the presidential elections. While the local turnout generally mirrors the turnout across the state, it is only in the range of 50 to 55 percent of the eligible, enrolled, active voters. The presidential years are in the neighborhood of 75 percent.
Absentee balloting can be requested in-person up to the day before the election, Nov. 7. In person early voting at the poll site in the county office building starts the weekend of Oct. 29 and ends on Sunday, Nov. 6. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekends and weekdays, except Tuesday and Thursday when the poll site is open for voting from noon to 8 p.m.
On election day itself, the traditional poll sites at the town level are open and will see most of the voting turnout. The board of elections reports that extra electronic poll books and ballot printers are being sent to many of the poll sites to keep waiting in line to a minimum. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The results of voting, to include all of the votes cast on election day, during early voting or by absentee ballot received by election day, will be posted on the Yates County Website by 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 8.
Yates County elections staff and community poll site inspectors will work to make sure every part of the election is transparent and available for inspections, as well as being error and fraud-free.
On the Ballot: Yates County
At the state and county level
• Governor/Lieutenant Governor: Kathy C. Hochul/Antonio Delgado (D,WF); Lee Zeldin/Alison Esposito (R,C)
• Comptroller: Thomas P. DiNapoli (D,WF); Paul Rodriguez (R,C)
• Attorney General: Letitia A. James (D,WF); Michael Henry (R,C)
• US Senator: Charles E. Schumer (D,WF); Joe Pinion (R,C); Diane Sare (LaRouche)
• State Supreme Court Justice: Roman Misula (D); Maroun Ajaka (D); James A. Vazzana (R,C); Jason L. Cook (R,C)
• Congressional Representative: Steven Holden (D); Claudia Tenney (R,C)
• State Senator: Thomas F. O'Mara (R,C)
• Member of Assembly: Philip A. Palmesano (R,C)
• Yates County Coroner: Jason Johnson (D); Jonathan VanDermark (R)
At the Local Level
• Italy
-Town Council: Michael J. Salotto (R)
• Jerusalem
-Town Justice: Todd C. Whitford (JP)
-Town Council: James E. Bird (R)
• Middlesex
-Town Justice: Margaret L. Randolph (R)
-Town Council: Stephanie Betts (R)
• Milo
-Town Justice: Michael J. Christensen (KL)
• Potter
-Town Council: Christopher G. Mumby (F)
• Torrey
-Town Council: Bruce Henderson (D)
On the ballot: Schuyler County
• Governor/Lieutenant Governor: Kathy C. Hochul/Antonio Delgado (D,WF); Lee Zeldin/Alison Esposito (R,C)
• Comptroller: Thomas P. DiNapoli (D,WF); Paul Rodriguez (R,C)
• Attorney General: Letitia A. James (D,WF); Michael Henry (R,C)
• US Senator: Charles E. Schumer (D,WF); Joe Pinion (R,C); Diane Sare (LaRouche)
• Congressional Representative: Max H. Della Pia (D); Nick Langworthy (R,C)
• State Senator: Thomas F. O'Mara (R,C)
• Member of Assembly: Philip A. Palmesano (R,C)
• Treasurer: Holley A. Sokolowski (R)
• Legislator District 5: Carl H. Blowers (R)
• Legislator District 6: Philip C. Barnes (R)
• Coroner: No candidate on the ballot
At the local level
• Cayuta
-Council Member: Kyle G. Reed (R)
• Dix
-Council Member: Brian R. Ervay (L)
• Hector
-Town Supervisor: Justin Boyette (D); John R. White (R)
-Town Justice: Joshua C. Navone (R,C)
-Council Member: Paul Bursic (D); Benjamin R. Dickens (R)
• Orange
-Council Member: Timothy J. Povoski (R)
• Reading
-Highway Superintendent: Jason H. Switzer (R)
There will also be one proposal on the ballot: the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. "To address and combat the impact of climate change and damage to the environment, the "Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond act of 2022" authorizes the sale of state bonds up to four billion two hundred million dollars to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resiliency, and clean energy projects.