ALBANY – Legislation sponsored by State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) to move elections for many public offices to even-numbered years has been signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
The law changes the future election cycles and will adjust the terms of office for elected officials in town boards, county legislatures, and other offices who historically have run in odd-numbered years. For these officials elected after January 1, 2025, terms of office will be shortened to bring them on the even-year cycle.
The new law does not apply to city or village elections, or to elected offices protected in the state Constitution to be held in odd-numbered years such as county clerk, sheriff, district attorneys, and judges. All of New York City is also exempt from the new law.
Skoufis and other supporters say it is about increasing voter turnout, which is historically lower in odd-numbered election years. Civic groups like the Citizens Union, Reinvent Albany, and Common Cause all supported the change as well, but not everyone is happy.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day, a Republican, slammed the governor for signing the election bill without any input from the public.
“This is bare-faced partisanship and Governor Hochul and Senator James Skoufis should be ashamed of themselves for pushing this bill through and not allowing voters to weigh in on such a major and abrupt change to their elections,” said Day. “The Rockland County Charter delineates elections and when they should occur. This law is an attempt to override that charter and local control in a home rule state and the oath I took is to that charter and the people of Rockland County not Governor Hochul. Local governments are the most responsive and responsible to the everyday person and play a vital governance role for drinking water, social services, sewage, zoning, schools, roads, parks, police, courts, jails, trash disposal — and more.”
Stephen Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties agrees. “At a time when we should be keeping the divisiveness at the federal and state levels out of our local communities, this bill does the opposite, burying the local issues that impact New Yorkers’ daily lives at the back of exceedingly long ballots,” he said.
Some county elected officials, including Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon took to social media on Friday night, pledging to challenge the constitutionality of the new law, which the and others say violates their local county charter.
