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Broome County legislators voted along party lines Tuesday night to adopt a new legislative district map, favored by Republicans. Last week, many residents voiced their concerns about the map in a public hearing.
“Being the 44th mayor of the City of Ithaca has been the honor of my lifetime.”
Candidates are declaring their intentions to run for State Senate across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes.
In Broome and Tompkins counties, only about 27% of people registered to vote actually cast a ballot.
“I think the Pa. GOP has shifted a bit from [wanting] the most conservative candidate possible to, ‘Who is the most electable?’
The transition comes as several city departments have vacancies or are currently led by individuals looking to retire in the near future.
“We came off an election (in 2020), where Democrats were all charged up to beat Donald Trump. They succeeded. So that motivator is gone.”
“I can handle this, bring it on, but right now, there are so many needs in this state.”
“We have to be willing to stand up to the far left because…(it’s) destroying the party.”
Several counties reported about 32 percent of registered voters turned out at the polls or returned a mail ballot by Tuesday night.
“I would suspect that this is an example of the people who scheduled those initiatives choosing the wrong election to put those initiatives on the ballot.”
Republicans and Conservatives are claiming victory in the rejection of three ballot proposals that would have allowed mail-in voting in New York, same-day voter registration, and made changes to the state’s redistricting process.
The race between Democrat Maria McLaughlin and Republican Kevin Brobson was marked by big campaign spending and negative ads.
Republican candidate Scott Steve declared victory in Cortland’s mayoral race over Tuesday night. He leads Democrat Bruce Tytler by just over 200 votes.
Drnek ended election night with 1,152 votes. His opponent, Republican candidate Len Carson, received 718.
Republicans appear poised to maintain control of the mayor’s office for another four years.
Voters in New York appeared to reject three amendments to the state constitution on Tuesday that would have modified the state’s redistricting process and made it easier to vote, while approving two others on the environment and courts in New York City.
Hundreds of local races across Pennsylvania are on today’s ballot, but determining who is bankrolling the candidates can be onerous.
Binghamton’s mayoral candidates respond to the questions left unasked and unanswered during last month’s mayoral debate.
“With this Unity map, we have the opportunity to elect a candidate of our choice who truly represents us.
There’s a joke in Albany that the title “AG” stands for “Aspiring Governor”, and for good reason. Governors Andrew Cuomo and Elliot Spitzer were both attorney generals.
Democrats favor one set of maps, while GOP commissioners support a different plan.
Millions of dollars from special interests are pouring into the election, a clear sign of the potential future decisions that could hang in the balance.
“In reality, these proportions are devastating to our election integrity.”
There are pros and cons to a ballot proposal that would guarantee New Yorkers’ rights to clean air and water.
Two current members of the Oneonta Common Council are running for the position. Republican candidate Len Carson and Democratic candidate Mark Drnek discussed their vision for the city in a debate Wednesday.
“We definitely recommend for this election that voters do their homework…know what these proposals are.”
The candidates strongly differed over the management of the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant.
Ken Butler will not be on the ballot, but has been rallying support for a write-in campaign.
“This will allow people who have not properly registered to vote, to be able to register to vote on the day of the election, and cast a ballot.”
“15 simple words, each person shall have a right to clean air and clean water and a healthful environment.”
“The ballot is extremely long in several of our counties and they’re like up to three pages, which means that the cost of returning those ballots is more than just a single stamp.”
“What Jay Jacob did was wrong, it was very disturbing, clearly unacceptable and it was hurtful.”
Both candidates will participate in a League of Women Voters Debate to discuss their candidacy and perspective on several policy issues impacting the city.
Experts aren’t exactly certain of any specific immediate legal implications of the amendment.
Everything you need to vote in the 2021 Pa. election, including key dates, how to find your polling place, and guides to the most consequential races.
These races are more contentious than ever, but getting information can be difficult.
Governor Hochul, who was virtually unknown before she took over, has a 55% approval rating, according to the Marist College poll.
Fiala endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul for reelection in 2022 during her first week as the Broome Democrats’ second-term party chair.
“I’m the most prepared person to assume this responsibility, and I am going to ask the voters at some point for their faith in me again.”
Although the Congressional maps for 2022 aren’t determined yet, 2020 candidate Kyle Van De Water says he is running again.
David is running for the seat currently held by Fred Akshar, who is not seeking reelection.
“I think it would be a safe assumption that Lee Zeldin is the front runner because he’s the only person that’s declared his candidacy to that level.”
“I certainly believe a significant number of their concerns of the federal government, the Department of Justice, are going to be addressed by the actions we’re taking and have been taking since the election was concluded.”
The company cited what it called a “divisive local political climate.”
“It is time to close the book on this election and focus on building a better community and more united Country for our children.”
Republican Claudia Tenney leads with 109, according to the court’s final tallies, and after the Oneida County certifies its vote count is likely to be sworn into Congress.
If all goes according to the schedule laid out by Justice Scott DelConte, voters in the district can expect to have a representative in Congress next week at the earliest.
Representatives for Republican Claudia Tenney and Democrat Anthony Brindisi must now wait until Friday, at the earliest, to find out which candidate is closer to claiming the seat.
“There’s no doubt in my mind where I’m going with this: every legal vote means every legal vote.”
Brindisi filed his latest election bid for New York’s 22nd Congressional District with the Federal Election Commission on Friday.
“I’m confident we’re going to get through the next 13 days in a safe and secure fashion”
Extremists emboldened by President Trump sought to thwart the peaceful transfer of power by staging a violent insurrection inside the U.S. Capitol.
Reed said voting to uphold the election results is his duty.
It’s unclear just how many hundreds of challenge ballots there are, but with only 12 votes separating the candidates, the court’s rulings on them might determine the race’s outcome.
“Despite being in the middle of a global pandemic, more Pennsylvanians than ever before – 6.9 million – participated in the Nov. 3 election and had their voices heard.”
“This pandemic, these masks, this physical configuration are a stark reminder to the nation that government matters and leadership matters.”
“Apparently, the law specifically says meet in person at the state Capitol. There’s been so much litigation about the election, we don’t want to test the law.”
“I think the time might’ve come to change the Electoral College, and I would support that change.”
There are still a couple of thousand votes in the district that are disputed or were never counted by election officials in violation of state election law, as evident in the court’s decision.
“The role of the court, as I see it, is making sure everyone follows the law,” Justice Scott DelConte said during oral arguments Monday.
Besides the razor thin margin, the absentee ballot counting process has been plagued by some errors and inefficiencies made by election officials.
Over 20 state representatives signed on to a co-sponsorship memo for a resolution calling on state leaders to delay vote certification — which occurred last week in the presidential race.
Each campaign received more 155,450 votes.
Arguments over challenged ballots continue in Oswego County Court on Monday.
It is the only House race in New York that is still uncalled.
“The president has been saying that ‘he won, he won, he won,’ and ‘fraud, fraud, fraud. And a lot of people who support this president, agree with him.”
With more than 19,000 mail-in ballots returned to Broome County this year, there were bound to be a few errors. In those cases, election workers were tasked with curing the ballot.
“New Yorkers have not only chosen to return to a Democratic Majority, but they’ve chosen to return a super majority.”
That means Democrats would have more leverage in negotiations on controversial measures next year, when conversations are expected to center largely around the state’s budget deficit.
Brindisi has won close to three times the number of mail-in ballots than Tenney, steadily closing the gap between them.
The GOP-backed resolution means counties will turn over voting data within the next 45 days..
Van De Water said he looks forward to a rematch in 2022.
In recent days, Danks Burke attempted to bring suit against officials in Schuyler County over some invalidated absentee ballots.
A handful of cases are pending in courts around the state, including a few key challenges. If the Trump campaign can whittle away Biden’s advantage to 0.5%, Pennsylvania law would trigger an automatic recount.
According to Danks Burke, the case relates to 75 to 100 ballots.
Both candidates believe their opponents lead is too large to overcome.
“The pro is, we’re going to make sure we count correctly and not miscount anyone’s vote.”
The Voter Integrity Fund was launched a week ago by Matt Braynard, who says he’s raised over $500,000 to cross-reference public data in a quest to unearth malfeasance in the election.
Kelles has been a Tompkins County legislator since 2015.
While the state already requires counties to audit a portion of ballots in every race, GOP caucus spokesman Mike Straub said the legislature should examine what it alleges are “the impacts of interference.”
“Joe Biden has rightfully earned the title of being the projected president-elect and that should be recognized,” Rep. Reed said.
The decision requires county election officials to copy and save any ballots campaign representatives inspect and object to for a judge to review later.
Some have taken a more defiant approach, including several rank-and-file members of the House Republican Caucus.
Tenney is up by 28,000 votes in NY-22. So far, at least 57,900 absentee ballots have been returned throughout the district.
“We also need to do a whole lot of work in the coming years to make sure we are building a truly equitable and just democracy,” said one of the rally organizers, Joanna Green.
PA-12 and PA-8 cover much of Northeast Pennsylvania.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m disenfranchising people. I’m just waiting on what the state wants us to do.”
“There may be a whole lot more bitterness, division and cynicism that we had back then,” Mitrano said.
“I want to be able to disagree with one another, to speak our truth. But I want to do it in a way that I don’t feel contempt or feel tempted to dehumanize the other person.”
“The teachings of at least the Haudenosaunee people are that the decisions we make today impact seven generations into the future and so that weighs heavy on people’s minds.”
“We knew that there is an overwhelming Democratic absentee vote that has to be counted still in a lot of our districts.”
“Something was systematically wrong with the polls generally, not just here, but across the country. Clearly, I think there was an underestimation of the Republican side of the turnout.”
Trump’s lead in PA has narrowed as mail-in votes are counted, but the race remains too close to call.
This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all eligible voters were allowed to cast mail in ballots, and they have not yet been counted, and may not be for several days.
Both candidates said Tuesday that they are waiting on absentee ballots to be returned before declaring who won.
With all election districts reporting, Garner leads with 61 percent of the vote en route to his second term.
Incumbent Delgado leads Republican Kyle Van De Water by just over 2 percent.
Reed faced Democrat Tracy Mitrano for a second consecutive time.
According to Barber’s campaign officials, the Democrat called Oberacker to concede late Tuesday night.
The incumbent, Republican Sen. Tom O’Mara, leads Democratic challenger, Leslie Danks Burke with nearly all districts reporting.
To find out who wins this year’s Congressional contests in New York State will require patience. The pandemic transformed how this election was run in New York State. The vast number of ballots cast by mail before Election Day could lengthen the amount of time it takes to count all the votes. But that won’t mean there are problems with the results.
I’ll really be interested to see if the 2020 election leads to new legislation in New York state and all across the country that makes voting easier and safer for all Americans even after hopefully the COVID-19 pandemic has come to an end.
A list of links to our region’s elections offices.
While Democrat Joe Biden is heavily favored to win the state over President Donald Trump, there is plenty of action in congressional and state races for voters to weigh in on.
Reports are flying that President Donald Trump may try to falsely claim electoral victory Tuesday night before states like Pennsylvania finish counting ballots.
President Trump told the Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group The Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.”
“I wanted my vote to be counted right away and not after the Election Day.”
Throughout Fall 2020, high school students in Rachel Murat’s AP Government and Politics class at Maine-Endwell High School used the ‘Let’s Talk About Election 2020‘, a national youth media challenge, as a framework to develop their own commentaries.
“There’s no gimmies. In this election cycle in a state like New York there’s no automatics. So wherever there is an open seat, we have to be invested and take it very seriously.”
While voter turnout is expected to break records this election, the right to vote for some Latinos was not always a guarantee.
Voting is confusing this year, but also easier than ever. Jennifer Wilson from the League of Women Voters shows us step-by-step what to expect when voting with an absentee ballot.
More than three-fourths of Republicans are planning to vote in person, while a majority of Democrats said they have or will cast a mail-in ballot.
Democrats need just two more seats to gain a supermajority that could potentially override any vetoes.
Energy, pollution policies are felt deeply in Pennsylvania.
“It leaves all of these holes in the implementation of the law where you might have disenfranchisement strictly based off of the ability for the county to interpret a law really loosely.”
“I do not believe you can be trusted on this question, Mr. Reed,” said Democratic challenger Tracy Mitrano.
Make sure, no matter what, that you drop off your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day. But don’t wait. Do it today.”
The state Board of Elections said Monday that voting in Chenango County won’t be affected overall.
“The cowards used a dead animal and a brick with a family member’s name on it to try to intimidate us. We assure everyone such threats only energize us to stand stronger.”
Throughout Fall 2020, high school students in Scott Symons’ Social Studies class at Windsor High School participated in ‘Let’s Talk About Election 2020’, a national youth media challenge. This challenge is a free, standards-aligned program on KQED Learn, co-hosted by the National Writing Project and PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. WSKG Education connected with Mr. Symons during the summer and supported him to integrate the project within the class. Mr. Symons shared:
“The kids really enjoyed this assignment because they got to pick something that they were passionate about (student choice)! Through their research, they got to become experts on their subject and share their views/research with the world.
Over the previous week, the city was the site of escalating tensions between pro- and anti-Trump groups.
Unaffiliated voters aren’t talked about a lot but they can be the difference between winning and losing close elections. They wonder why should they compromise their beliefs to join a political party.
“The ballot line is under attack, and it could go away. To save it, we need as many New Yorkers as possible to vote for the Biden–Harris ticket on the WFP line this year.”
Democratic incumbent Anthony Brindisi, former Republican representative Claudia Tenney and Libertarian candidate Keith Price covered an array of issues, including policing and climate change.
Voters asked candidates about their qualifications, government policies and voting records.
Millions of absentee ballots were already returned nation-wide, but candidates are still campaigning. So, what if you change your mind?
The number of polling places vary from county to county, but each county is required to have at least one early voting polling site.
“We’re anticipating a very big turnout in early voting, it seems easier than Election Day, but we have no idea.”
A spokesperson for Bucks County confirmed at least 1,091 voters have received two ballots and an official in Mifflin County said 108 voters were subject to the error.
After the new bail reform laws took effect in January, some areas of the state started to report a rise in crime, particularly in New York City.
Democratic County Executive Jason Garnar and Republican challenger Karl Bernhardsen met in an online forum hosted by the Rotary Club of Binghamton.
A survey of Pennsylvanians who did not vote in 2016, found nearly half of nonvoters wanted to cast ballots on Election Day, but were held back by logistical issues — bucking the stereotype of nonvoters as people who are checked out of politics.
“The closer the race, the longer it will take to know who the winner is, and oftentimes you do know within 24-36 hours because it’s not a very, very close race.”
Check how many mail-in ballots have been requested and returned, and get answers to important voting questions.
“I don’t want to wait until after the election to do this, I think we need help now.”
Candidates also discussed the ongoing confirmation hearings of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Tuesday’s 90-minute debate was sponsored by local chapters of the League of Women Voters.
The freshman Democratic incumbent held a nine-point lead over Tenney in the survey of likely voters in the district.
More than two dozen election officials said they’ll set up at least a drop box or two monitored by a law enforcement official, security camera or both.
This is the second time Danks Burke has challenged O’Mara to represent the 58th senate district. Geographically, the district is the largest in the state senate.
Jennifer Wilson, Deputy Director of the League of Women Voters of New York State, said the success of their lawsuit makes three important changes.
The president’s speech included several of the false claims that are regular parts of his stump speeches.
Republican and former Congresswoman Claudia Tenney agreed Monday to the forum. Democratic Incumbent Anthony Brindisi and Libertarian Challenger Keith Price earlier confirmed their participation.
The finding adds to concerns that the president and some Republicans are laying the groundwork to challenge the legitimacy of the election.
Each candidate claims the other did not do enough while in office to limit Spectrum, while still accepting its money.
“[The ruling] jeopardizes the security and integrity of our elections and will potentially put Pennsylvania in the middle of a disastrous national crisis.”
New Yorkers who are not currently registered to vote in the November elections have until October 9th to do so.
Judges in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin threw Hawkins and his running mate off the ballot last week, because of technicalities.
The Let NY Vote Coalition says pre-paying postage on return envelopes for absentee ballots will reduce obstacles for voters with health risks.
The KQED Youth Media Challenge: Let’s Talk about Election 2020 gives middle and high school students an opportunity to put their persuasive skills to work and have a real audience for the issues that matter to them most.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that President Donald Trump has been the “worst president in history” from the point of New York City, and that the “best thing he did for New York City was leave.”
“Young people can help our elections and make some extra money by becoming poll workers and relieve the pressure on our older poll workers.”
Voters in New York can now request an absentee ballot for the November elections online, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday, with a special portal set up by the state to handle those requests statewide.
The amendment would be part of a federal spending bill.
PBS NewsHour Convention Coverage: The Republican National Convention airs Monday, August 24, 2020 to Thursday, August 27, 2020 on WSKG TV and WSKG Radio.
“We’re all trying to figure out, ‘How can the counties have the responsibility for making sure the count is accurate and as timely as possible?”
“It’s no coincidence the moment the Trump administration is caught weakening the CDC’s COVID-19 testing guidelines to artificially lower the number of positive cases, they launched this nakedly partisan deflection.”
New York state is suing President Donald Trump and the head of the U.S. Postal Service over recent policy changes that Attorney General Letitia James said Tuesday would unconstitutionally limit access to this year’s elections for those who plan to vote by mail.
Voters can begin requesting absentee ballots right away from their local elections boards, citing the reason that they fear risks of contracting the coronavirus or any other contagious illness.
In a rush to find answers, lawmakers and election officials alike are proposing a number of changes.
New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said if Anthony were alive today, she would decline the president’s offer.
“Having a conversation about inequities or injustices is not mutually exclusive from supporting the men and women of law enforcement.”
Cuomo’s “American Crisis” will be released Oct. 13, three weeks before Election Day, when Trump is expected to face Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
“We have legislators in office that aren’t representing the people and don’t necessarily care about certain precautions.”
“If in fact we brought the boxes to them, and they had the ability to vote right at senior centers, right at community centers, then I think that’s the recipe for success.”
“From the governor’s point of view, he’s riding high right now with his New York constituents, and this is chance to show himself off on the national stage,”
Tenney said Rep. Anthony Brindisi is not doing enough to fight Spectrum’s business practices, Brindisi’s campaign disagrees.
“A significant portion of our elections will be administered by an entity over which the Board of Elections have no control.”
“It can’t just fall on the teachers to figure it out, or even the local school districts,” said Griffin.
“If they get too far into the weeds or attempt to drop in other fixes now, my fear is nothing will get done.”
Changes to state law need to be effective by early September if counties are to implement them in time for the general election.
“I don’t live in a fairy tale world of this is the idea, let’s put it into practice. Well, no I’ve put it into practice and we’ve seen things that do and don’t work.”
This will be the 25th time Hawkins has run for office, but his first national campaign. He’s run for Congress, U.S. Senate, governor and several other state and local offices.
The Army veteran will try to unseat Rep. Antonio Delgado in November.