ALBANY – Senator James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) has introduced a bill that would change when local elections outside of New York City would be held. A similar bill has been introduced in the Assembly.
The Skoufis bill would call for local town and city elections outside of the Big Apple to be held in November of even-numbered years. Village primaries would be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in June of even-numbered years. The bill is currently being considered by the Senate Elections Committee. Previous versions of the proposed legislation have been introduced every year since 2013, and have failed.
On Thursday, State Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy issued a statement suggesting that the Democratic majority in both houses are trying to pass the bill before the end of the legislative session next Friday.
“New York Democrats are at it again, working to sneak through legislation that would illegally seize power and upend our entire election system in New York. They will stop at nothing to manipulate the system to rig themselves into total and permanent power,” Langworthy said.
After hearing of Langworthy’s statement, Skoufis told Mid-Hudson News “Nick Langworthy’s rumor-driven hysteria over streamlining and consolidating government – something the Republican Party purportedly endorses – resembles that of a lunatic.” The senator explained the proposal, saying “This bill moves most odd-year elections to even years to improve voter turnout so local officeholders are elected by a majority of their constituents.”
Skoufis claims that the change would save taxpayer dollars which, according to him, “Langworthy and his cronies should be jumping for joy about.”
