NEW YORK STATE (WSYR-TV) Tuesday is Primary Day in New York State. Joe Biden already has clinched the Democratic presidential nomination with more than 2,100 delegates. The big races that NewsChannel 9 is following in Central New York are for the 22nd and the 24th Congressional district seats, and the 126th Assembly district.
In the 24th Congressional district Democratic primary, Francis Conole is running against Dana Balter. That winner faces incumbent Republican John Katko. Conole has been endorsed by the Onondaga and Cayuga County Democratic committees. Balter has the backing of the Oswego County Democratic committee.
In the 22nd Congressional district Republican primary, party-backed Claudia Tenney is facing George Phillips. The winner if that race faces incumbent Anthony Brindisi.
In the 126th Assembly district, republicans are choosing between retired Army colonel John Lemondes of LaFayette and LaFayette Town Supervisor Danny Fitzpatrick. That seat opened up this year with the retirement of Gary Finch.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Normally they open at noon for a primary. Early voting for the primary, both in-person and through mail-in absentee ballots, ended this weekend.
Since there were unprecedented circumstances led to many more absentee ballots being sent out this year, it may take longer to get the final results of the votes.
There are several other primary races, including in the State Assembly, Tompkins County District Attorney and judge races.
If you’re headed out to the polls on Tuesday, you should expect to take COVID-19 precautions and bring a mask with you. If not, it will be provided at the polling site and you will be expected to wear it. According to the State Board of Elections, if you decline to wear a mask, you will be isolated within a polling site, away from the other voters, and a ballot will be brought to you.
Ahead of Primary Day, New Yorkers had a chance to get their votes in early. NewsChannel 9’s Julia LeBlanc was at the Board of Elections in Onondaga County where she spoke with Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny about whether or not voters took advantage of early voting.
