Making Democracy Work
General Information For Voters
Inge-Lise Pangburn voterservices2@lwvschenectady.org
Jenny Overeynder voterservices3@lwvschenectady.org
Elizabeth Cooke voterservices4@lwvschenectady.org
Connie Young voterservices5@lwvschenectady.org
Carol Furman
The voters were able to hear directly from the candidates for three NYS Assembly and two NYS Senate seats, one of which is still contested. The League and its partners provided the funding for Open Stage Media to record and broadcast the Forum on Channel 16 for several weeks after the Forum. In addition, the Forum recordings were available on Open Stage Media's website On Demand, which was accessed by 355 voters. This recording allowed us to reach a much wider audience.
Along with AAUW volunteers, we also had over 30 members and helpers participate in a poll reporting project directed by the Capital District Election Service (CDES) in which our members collect poll results from the district polling places and report them to CDES. These volunteers earned more than $1000 for the League and AAUW, which paid our expenses for the Candidate Forum and allowed us to bank an additional $400. Thanks to all who helped, and special thanks to Sue Keats and Jenny Overeynder who recruited our poll watchers.
Pat MacKinnon, Chair, Voter Services
This tool, provided by the League, is a quick and easy way to register to vote. Voter Registration Tool
The following site is the League's one-stop-shop for election information, including a polling place locater. VOTE411.org
The League of Women Voters of New York State is pleased to announce the introduction of the new Smart Voter campaign information website: <http://www.smartvoter.org/ny/state.>
Policies:
1. All candidates for office who meet New York State election law requirements to be on the ballot and are involved in contested races are eligible to take part in candidate forums.
2. When more than one candidate for a state, county or local office is on the ballot and an invited candidate for state, county or local office does not respond or accept an invitation to the forum, or when a candidate accepts but does not appear at the forum, the candidate present at the forum may make a statement and answer audience submitted/League reviewed questions as long as this situation is made clear to the audience. The moderator will be permitted to announce that the absent person is a candidate for that office. No substitutes will be permitted to take the place of a candidate. The absent candidate will be allowed to submit an opening statement with the same time limits as the candidates present. The moderator would read the statement provided by the absent candidate.
3. No videotaping of candidate debates, or parts thereof, is permitted except by those previously authorized by the League of Women Voters to officially tape the event.
4. Candidates' literature will be allowed to be distributed on tables placed near the entrance to the forum location.
5. The League reserves the right to cancel the forum if circumstances warrant.
6. Candidates will be sent a copy of these policies when they are invited to participate in the forum. Any subsequent changes to the program format will be communicated to candidates prior to the program.
The Democratic and Republican primaries in New York State are different in important ways, but have similarities. Both are "closed" primaries; participation is limited to the voters who have registered in the party that is sponsoring the election. While delegates are not bound by any law to vote for any particular candidate at the party's national convention, both parties have "pledged" candidates who vote for the candidate to whom they are "pledged". Both parties also have "un-pledged" and/or "super" delegates, who are not committed to a particular candidate. A certain number of delegates in each party participate because they occupy a particular elective or party position. Before the primary, candidates submit to the board of elections a list of delegates from each congressional district that are committed to them. These delegates actually appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary, along with a statewide presidential democratic candidate, but do not appear on the ballot in the Republican primary.
Details of the Nominating Process
Democrats: "Proportional" Primary, 281 delegates at stake New York Democrats have a total of 281 delegates, 151 of whom are "pledged" and will be elected proportionally based on the results of the February 5th primary within each congressional district. In addition, 45 are automatic and/or chosen from party leaders. The remaining 85 delegates are selected at a state Democratic committee meeting in May.
The Democratic Party in New York always uses a proportional method for awarding delegates. The percentage of delegates each candidate is awarded (or the number of undecided delegates) is representative of the number of primary votes for the candidate.
The Democratic Party primary in New York is really a "dual primary." Candidates for president appear on the ballot and run against each other in a statewide primary, and delegates and alternate delegates run in each congressional district. Delegates and alternates are either committed to a presidential candidate or uncommitted, and males and females are equally represented among the delegate choices for a candidate.
Republicans: "Winner-take-all" Primary, 101 delegates at stake
The National Republican Party, unlike the Democratic Party, allows each state to decide whether to use a "winner-take-all method" or the "proportional" method. In the winner-take-all method, the candidate whom the majority of caucus participants or voters support receives all the delegates for the state. New York is a "winner take all" state.
In New York, the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention is determined by a statewide primary of candidates for the office of President. Unlike the Democratic primary ballot, the names of the delegates and alternate delegates do no appear. Based on the results of the February 5th presidential primary, 87 of the state's 101 Republican delegates are allocated to the presidential candidate with the most votes statewide. At a Republican state committee meeting, the remaining 14 unpledged delegates are selected from party leaders.
Glenville Town Board meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at the Municipal Center, 7:30 p.m.
Rotterdam Town Board meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at Assembly Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Niskayuna Town Board: Call 386-4592 for the schedule
The above is a web-site maintained by the SCHENECTADY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, a service of the Schenectady County Public Library.