Albany County Republican & Conservative Conference Agenda 

GOP & Conservative Conference in County Legislature Urges Governor to Veto “Local Elections Bill” S.3505-B/A.4282-B

ALBANY, NY – The Republican and Conservative Conference in the Albany County Legislature today sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her to veto a bill (S.3505-B/A.4282-B) that would move the elections of most local officials into the same electoral cycle as Governor or President. The bill would drown out local issues, increase partisan divisions, and cheapen the public discourse for many municipal elections.

“As you know from your time as a member of the Hamburg Town Board and as Erie County Clerk, local issues are extremely important and worth a close examination from the voting public. These kinds of issues – whether they be something as simple as constructing a new local park or something as complex as tax distribution models – are important, and affect every New Yorker in some way. Given the over-the-top rhetoric and partisanship which consumes the national political discourse, it will be almost impossible for local elected officials of either or no party to make their case to voters without important local issues being overshadowed by the latest national controversy du jour. This is not only unfortunate, given how critical many local issues are, but it also cheapens the democratic experience in our State,” the lawmakers wrote to Governor Hochul.

Though the bill sponsors claim their law will increase turnout, research suggests that voters vote much more frequently for top ballot races than they do down ballot, a phenomenon known as “down ballot roll off.” This issue would be exacerbated by having dozens of races from President to Village Trustee on a single ballot, which will be significantly longer, and potentially cost Albany County taxpayers millions of dollars for new equipment and software alone.

It is for these reasons, and to safeguard critical local issues, that the bipartisan New York State Association of Counties opposes this bill.

The letter is attached.