Town Supervisors in Orange County Oppose Even-Year Election Bill

Exterior view of the New York Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 14, 2020. Hans Pennink/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Since the even-year election bill passed the state Legislature in June, local opposition has been on the rise from different corners, including towns in Orange County.

The bill, which proposes to move most town and some county elections from odd years to even years, is just one step short of becoming law—Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.

Considered one of the most controversial bills of the year, it was thrust onto the Senate floor near the end of the legislative session and passed both chambers in mere days.

Warwick Supervisor Mike Sweeton, a Republican who helms the largest town in the county, said that his foremost concern about the bill was that it unfairly targeted towns.

The bill affects biennial town elections, plus county-level seats, except for sheriffs, county clerks, district attorneys, and judgeships. It doesn’t affect elections in cities or villages (the only exception being villages that are coterminous with and operate principally as towns).

“So it seems targeted to town elections, and we object on that basis alone,” Mr. Sweeton told The Epoch Times.

State Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat and the bill’s prime sponsor, said during the floor debate that city elections and some county seats were left out of the bill only because changing them meant amending the state constitution and was a multi-year process.

He said that the ultimate goal was to consolidate almost all local elections to coincide with state and national races in order to increase voter turnout.

A sign welcomes visitors to the Town of Warwick, N.Y., on Jan 12, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Mr. Skoufis represents most of Orange County, except for the Montgomery and Newburgh areas.

However, during the debate, there wasn’t a bill introduced in the state Legislature this year to kick off that multi-year process, and that point was raised by several opposing lawmakers, including Mr. Sweeton.

As the president of the Orange County Association of Towns, Villages, and Cities, Mr. Sweeton sent a letter on behalf of members to Ms. Hochul to urge her not to sign the bill.

In the letter, he cited other concerns, such as voter dropout in down-ballot races and local races being drowned out by state and federal races.

“We know you came into public service as a local official, and you know the job that we all do to serve our community,” Mr. Sweeton wrote. “It is our fervent hope that you draw on this experience to acknowledge the negative effects this law would have on local government and veto this legislation.”

National Versus Local

Town of Goshen Supervisor Joseph Betro told The Epoch Times that the bill equates to nationalizing local elections and mistakes higher voter turnout for greater participation in down-ballot races.

“When ballots have more contests on them, there is a significant dropoff, meaning the local races at the end of the ballot will be left blank,” Mr. Betro said.

Mr. Skoufis acknowledged the drop-off phenomenon during the floor debate but argued that it would be too marginal to zero out the increase in turnout.

Goshen Town Hall, at 41 Webster Ave., in Goshen, N.Y., on June 27, 2016. (Holly Kellum/The Epoch Times)

However, Mr. Betro’s biggest concern is that the legislation will bury local races under the excessive and polarized messaging of the state and national elections.

“In federal elections, sensitive issues are heavily advertised, motivating people to vote. But town offices have little say in these matters, and these subjects should not trickle down among communities where we are all neighbors [in an election year],” he said.

“Local elections should remain local.”

Town of Newburgh Supervisor Gil Piaquadio agreed.

Even though local race campaigning relies more on interpersonal messaging, the media bombardment of state and federal elections will still drown out local issues through voter fatigue, he said.

“[The legislation] would make it difficult for the local candidates’ intentions and philosophy to reach the voters,” Mr. Piaquadio said. “Odd-year elections for local candidates have been continuous for over 100 years, and I am opposed to rescheduling them.”

Support for the Bill

Town of Woodbury Supervisor Thomas Burke told The Epoch Times that the legislation would lead to greater voter turnout and higher participation in democracy.

“People do not come out to vote during the off years, but we do know people get involved in major elections,” Mr. Burke said. “This legislation is a win for voters because those who might show up for state and federal races but wouldn’t otherwise turn out for local elections will now have a voice in their local elections.

“Society and life overall continue to change and evolve, and I look forward to the governor’s consideration of the measure.”

Higher voter turnout was cited as the primary reason behind the bill by Mr. Skoufis, who highlighted several supportive case studies during the floor debate.

“The proposed reforms encapsulated in this bill will generate a notable surge in civic engagement,” he told The Epoch Times. “By synchronizing local elections to even-number years, we are empowering voters.”

Another benefit mentioned during the floor debate was a cost savings through election consolidation, although some lawmakers argued to the contrary as the bill didn’t get rid of all odd-year elections, and lengthier ballots might even lead to higher costs.

The effective date for the proposed election changes is November 2025.