The Gossips of Rivertown: Odd or Even

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Odd or Even

Last month, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed a bill that would move many local elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, to coincide with national elections. The bill is now with Governor Kathy Hochul, and she is expected to sign it into law. Last Wednesday, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors voted 13 to 10 to approve a resolution asking Hochul to veto the bill. Jammel Cutler has the story in today's Register-Star: "Supervisors call for veto of even-year law."

The shift in election year from odd to even would affect the election of the town supervisors and the five supervisors from Hudson who make up the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. It would not affect elections for office in the City of Hudson or for county district attorney, both of which are held in odd-numbered years under the terms of the state constitution.

1 comment:

Union JackJuly 18, 2023 at 12:53 PM
On one hand, multiple and complex election schedules are undemocratic and a waste of money (hello School Board & Budget elections). On the other hand, the toxic nature of our current national politics has polluted many aspects of our discourse and local politics has not been immune. Candidates for local office just drop the current buzzwords and don't speak to the specific local issues, which usually have nothing to do with the national party platforms. I fear doing local elections during a general election year would just bury the local issues even more.
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