FOLLOW UP – VILLAGE ELECTIONS
November general elections are commonplace and usually widely publicized. South Nyack elections are in March. Do you know that a much greater number of our residents come out to vote in a November general election than do so in March for our South Nyack election? Approximately 10% of the November voters return for our March elections. This is the primary reason the Board moved to change our elections to November.
Furthermore, a November Village election:
Would result in a higher number of our residents casting their votes, which means a larger number of voices throughout our Village being heard.
Would provide South Nyack voters with the convenience of longer 6:00am-9:00pm poll hours, and *NYS Voting Election Law requires employers to give time off to vote only for the November Election Day.
Would save us money.
-November elections are run by the Rockland County Board of Elections and the cost is divided amongst the Towns (e.g., Town of Orangetown). That cost is passed on to all of us in our Orangetown taxes. By holding our elections separately in March, South Nyack incurs additional costs to hire election inspectors, post notices in the newspaper, create and print paper ballots. While not an extravagant cost, it is a savings.
Therefore, at our February 13th Board of Trustees meeting and with the guidance of legal counsel, the Board voted and passed by majority vote, the following two resolutions:
- Resolved, that Village of South Nyack elections shall henceforth be conducted by the Rockland County Board of Elections.
- Resolved, that beginning in the caledar year 2019, except for special elections that might be scheduled on varying dates, all elections for the Village of South Nyack shall henceforth be held on the day of the general election in November.
Please feel free to email me at bonnie.christian@southnyack.ny.gov with any questions.
Bonnie Christian
*NYS Election Law 3-110