New York governor attempts to boost voter turnout with new law aligning local, state races

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill into law that changes the state’s election calendar so more local elections are timed with statewide races in an attempt to boost voter turnout.

The legislation, signed Friday, would increase voter turnout by moving county and town elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years when statewide and legislative races are held.  

“When New Yorkers don’t vote in local elections, they miss a chance to make their voice heard in local government,” Hochul posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Today, I took action to align many of our local elections with legislative and statewide ones to improve voter participation and promote a more inclusive democracy.”

The law won’t affect elections not under the state legislature’s oversight, including judicial races and elections for New York City offices, The Associated Press reported.

Hochul said she supports changing those races, too, though a state constitutional amendment and the new law is a “meaningful first step” toward expanding access to the ballot box.

In a statement, Hochul said the law is a fiscally responsible approach that reduces taxpayer costs for election administration by avoiding holding elections every year.

Voter participation in elections held in even-numbered years in New York State is substantially higher than participating during odd-numbered years, Hochul said. Approximately 64 percent of voters participated in 2020, while only 25 participated the following year, she said.

Republicans have complained that the new law tips the scales in favor of the Democratic Party in control of the state and local election officials have said smaller races would get lost amid higher-profile elections, The AP reported.