Election Day 2022: Here's where to vote in the Mohawk Valley and who's on the ballot
Midterm elections will be underway Tuesday, Nov. 8, with candidates ranging from county clerk to state governor on the ballot. If you're voting in the Mohawk Valley, here's what you need to know this Election Day:
How many people voted early?
In Oneida County, more than twice as many early voters turned up at the polls compared to last year. During the 9-day early voting period which ended Sunday, 8,682 people cast their ballots in Oneida County, up from 3,279 in 2021, according to the Oneida County Board of Elections.
For this election, 2,169 voted early this year in Madison County, compared to 618 last year, according to the Madison County Board of Elections.
"Last year was a local year," Democratic Deputy Commissioner Maggie Conley explained. "This year is our first federal and state election since 2020."
In 2020, Madison and Oneida counties both reported significantly higher numbers: 16,944 in Oneida County and 6,357 in Madison County.
In Herkimer County, 1,209 voted early in this year's general election — a jump from around 70 in early voting in the primary in June, according to the Herkimer County Board of Elections.
"So, it's substantially different," Democratic Commissioner Robert Hoyt said. "People are coming out to vote, for sure."
Election 2022:What you need to know about local races
Where to vote in Oneida County
The Oneida County Board of Elections has a list of all polling sites in the county on its website, with poll sites in Utica including the Parkway Recreation Center, Utica City Hall, Mohawk Valley Community College and Donovan Middle School.
You can also find your polling site and voter registration on the New York State Board of Elections website. All poll sites on Election Day will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where to vote in Herkimer County
You can find your polling site and voter registration on the New York State Board of Elections website. All poll sites on Election Day will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where to vote in Madison County
The Madison County Board of Elections has posted a spreadsheet of all polling sites in the county online, with poll sites including the Hamilton Public Library at 13 Broad St. in Hamilton, the Madison Fire Hall at 7362 SR 20 in Madison and the Kallet Civic Center at 159 Main St. in Oneida. You can also find your polling site and voter registration on the New York State Board of Elections website. All poll sites on Election Day will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Who's on the ballot?
Sample ballots are available on the Oneida County, Herkimer County and Madison County Board of Elections websites, but here are some races the Observer-Dispatch has covered:
For Congress: Brandon Williams vs. Francis Conole
For state Supreme Court: Eight candidates vie for four open seats
For state Assembly: Incumbent Brian Miller faces Daniel Buttermann and Colton Mennig
For state Assembly: Incumbent Marianne Buttenschon vs. John Zielinski
For Oneida County Clerk: Mary Finegan vs. Merima Smajic-Oren
For Oneida County Sheriff: Incumbent Robert Maciol vs. James Scarchilli
For Madison County Judge: Bradley Moses faces write-in candidate Rhonda Youngs
Other offices up for election include:
NYS Governor and Lieutenant Governor
NYS Comptroller
NYS Attorney General
U.S. Senator
Residents can also vote Yes or No on the ballot Proposal 1 (Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022):
"To address and combat the impact of climate change and damage to the environment, the 'Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022' authorizes the sale of state bonds up to four billion two hundred million dollars to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resiliency, and clean energy projects. Shall the Environmental Bond Act of 2022 be approved?"
More:Early voting in Oneida County, requesting absentee ballot: What you need to know
NY midterms:NY midterms: Francis Conole answers on abortion, inflation, more; Brandon Williams silent
What to expect
Some changes this Election Day include a switch to electronic poll books in Oneida County and a marked shift from the Utica to Syracuse-area in the Congressional NY-22 race.
H. Rose Schneider covers public safety, breaking and trending news for the Observer-Dispatch in Utica. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Election Day 2022: Where to vote, who's on the ballot in Mohawk Valley
