General election is Tuesday, Nov. 2

YATES, STEUBEN COUNTIES--The general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2 is rapidly approaching and early voting is already underway across the county and state. Despite not being a presidential election, there are a number of important issues on the ballot including proposed changes to the New York Constitution.
Statewide voters will be asked to consider a number of amendments, including (proposal one) to freeze the number of state senators at 63 and amend the manner of drawing district lines. Other amendments include (proposal two) adding the right to clean air, clean water and a healthful environment; (proposal three) eliminating the ten-day-advance voter registration requirement; (proposal four) authorizing no-excuse absentee ballots, and (proposal five) increasing the jurisdiction of the New York City Civil Court to allow it to decide claims up to $50,000.
In Yates County, all residents will be asked to pick two candidates to serve as State Supreme Court Justices for the 7th Judicial District from Democrats and Working Families candidates Maurice Verrillo and Deral Givens and Republican and Conservative candidates Elena Cariola and Jim Walsh.
Yates County residents will also have one candidate, Marsha Devine, for treasurer; Todd Casella, for district attorney; and Theron Smith, for coroner.
In Benton, there will be one contested election with Democrats Bill Roege and Brian Murphy and Republican Glen Quakenbush vying for two positions on the town council.
Milo will have three candidates for two open town council seats with Democrat M. A. Phillips-Espana and Republicans James Harris and Gene Spanneut on the ballot.
In Starkey, Democratic candidate Paula Sullivan and Republican Carrie Wood are running for the position of Town Justice.
Torrey Democratic Candidate Peter Martini and Republican James Smith will vie for the position of town supervisor.
Middlesex has three candidates running for two town council positions. Republican Austin Liddiard, Republican Paul Mitchell and Bullseye Peter Gerbic are on the ballot.
There are also three candidates for two positions on the Italy town council. They include: Republican Benjamin Dempsey, Republican David Ferry and Big Picture Michael Salotto.
For residents in District 1 of the county legislature, five candidates will be vying for four spots. Democrat K. Dixon Zorovich will compete with Republican candidates Timothy Cutler, Douglas Paddock, Patrick Killen and Edward Bronson.
District 2 will have three listed candidates for three open positions, as will District 4.
District 3 has eight candidates competing for four seats. They include: Democrat Teresa Hoban, Democrat Kelley Reynolds, Democrat Valerie Brechko, Democrat M A Phillips-Espana, Republican Daniel W. Banach, Republican/Making a Difference Carlie Chilson, Republican Mark W. Morris, and Republican Leslie Church.
Early voting will take place for nine days at the Board of Elections located at 417 Liberty Street in Penn Yan.
The remaining hours include: Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information regarding polling locations on election day visit https://www.yatescounty.org/324/Where-Do-I-Vote.
In Wayne, residents will have one candidate, William Mahr, for town supervisor. For the two open positions of councilman, which is a four-year term, there are three candidates. Democrat/Republican Julie Hear, Republican E. David Bauer and Democrat Michael Haff are on the ballot. For the two-year term of Superintendent of Highways, Democrat Doug Howard will be facing Republican Gary Perz.
In Steuben County, early voting will take place at the Steuben County Annex located at 20 E. Morris Street in Bath.
Early voting hours are: Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 28 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For county and statewide elections, in Schuyler three candidates are vying for three spots as a Supreme Court Justice of the Sixth Judicial District, Joseph Fazzary is the sole candidate for District Attorney and Theresa Philbin is the sole candidate for County Clerk.
For the county legislature, only residents in District 1 will see a contested election with Democrat/Community Voice Howard Cabezas going against Republican David Reed.
The position of sheriff, which is a four-year term, is also a contested election with Republican/Conservative Kevin Rumsey vying against Safe Schuyler candidate Breck Spaulding.
The town of Dix will see a contested election for the position of town supervisor with Democrat Dominick Smith facing off against Republican Harold Russell for the four-year term.
The Town of Hector has four candidates running for three seats on the town council with Democrats Katie O'Connor, Jessica Rodgers and Elizabeth Martin and Republican candidate Robert Mahaney.
Early voting began on Oct. 23 and will last until Halloween, Oct. 31 at the County Courthouse Building located at 105 9th St. in Watkins Glen.
The times are as follows: Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Day-of-voting locations can be found online at https://www.schuylercounty.us/1008/Election-Districts-Polling-Sites.
Even though the deadline for voter registration has passed, a registered voter can still obtain an absentee ballot in person at the board of elections.