Chris Seubert, 20, is one of many young voters who decided to cast their ballot and make their voices heard in this year's local elections. With the 18-24 year old age demographic representing lower numbers in recent historical elections, Seubert says it's important to get out there and try to create change.
Hundreds of people volunteer to work at the pools each year, but not all continue to volunteer year after year. Victor Sawenko began working at the polls in the 2008 presidential election, and has never stopped. He enjoys the activity, and it gives him something to do and look forward to each November.
While young kids cannot vote in the 2021 elections, parents still choose to bring their children along to the polls. For two fathers, Kwame Fluker and Daniel Dingel, going to vote alongside their sons has become a family tradition. And while Fluker looks forward to the day his son Anderson can vote, Dingel shared that experience today with his college-age son Andrew.
Poll workers at the Eastwood Community Center employed COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure voters remained safe at the ballot boxes during the 2021 election cycle. Regulations included sanitizing voting stations after each use, making hand sanitizer available to voters, and requiring masks indoors.
The pandemic caused small changes in the voting process, yet voters continue to cast their votes.
DEWITT, N.Y. – (DiA) – The Dewitt Town Hall is one of over dozens 150 polling places in Onondaga County. The town hall has been seeing a slow, but steady stream of voters since opening its doors. Site manager, Timothy Bahia, says there have been a little over 100 ballots logged as of noon today. He…
Democracy In Action reporters are all over Onondaga County. These are the polling places we expect to visit. If you see a DIA reporter, let us know on twitter at @DemocracyAction.
Liverpool, N.Y. (DiA)–This year’s local election cycle is welcoming New York State interests with five referendums included on this year’s ballot. The referendums include five proposed NYS Constitutional amendments, including state redistricting procedures, no-excuse absentee voting, and voter registration policies. 2019 was the last local election year, and voter turnout was around 33%, said Dustin…
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (DiA) – Election Day in Onondaga County had many local positions up for grab this year. For one frequent voter, he believes voting every year is important for him and his son. Onondaga County resident Francis Zaryski has been living in the area for about 20 years and has voted every year since he…
In a country where division is growing, polarizing opinions come to the forefront. Voters in Syracuse are deciding what to prioritize in this year's election, especially with multiple propositions on the ballot, and a mayoral seat up for grabs.
Syracuse Residents Linda Abear and Cjala Surrat voted at the Bellevue Heights Methodist Church polling site. Linda Abear was joined with her two grandchildren, as she wanted to teach them how to vote. She said that the School District has failed to teach her grandchildren the right things, as she believes children are being indoctrinated by teachers. Cjala Surrat voiced concerns over poverty in the Syracuse area, including what to do with the population along I-81. She said that she voted to stand up and be a voice for them. Polls close at nine tonight.
In what is considered an "off-year" for voting, the polls are seeing more action then in five years. Reporter Lucas Vogel speaks with a local poll worker about why that is, and why it's good for our democracy.
Today is election day in New York and citizens from all different backgrounds are casting their votes. Many had great experiences and were eager to exercise their constitutional rights through voting and effecting change in their desired areas. Common fields of interest include socio-economic inequality and the mayoral election. A few voters expressed their concern with the back side of ballots as there was little information or context regarding certain polls. Polling centers officially close at nine tonight though results likely will not be final for at least a day.
Many voters in Onondaga County, and specifically the Syracuse area, decided to vote using absentee ballots during the 2020 Presidential Election due to COVID-19 concerns. Now, during the 2021 Syracuse General Election, more voters are going in person. Whether it is due to the location of the closest voting poll or the chance to show children how to vote, those who visited the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection Gym on Election Day had different reasons as to why they decided to vote in person this year.
