Planning Your Vote

While the national political contest has been omnipresent for at least two years, it's time for Putnam Valley voters to focus on some key local elections we are being asked to decide in November.

This week, the Putnam County Board of Elections released its sample ballot, which you can view by clicking here. Putnam Valley voters will need to select two individuals out of four to represent us in Albany. In the race for NY State Senate, incumbent Rob Rolison (R), the former mayor of Poughkeepsie, is running against Yvette Valdés Smith (D), a Fishkill resident who is the minority leader of the Dutchess County legislature. Rolison is also running on the Conservative Party line and Valdés Smith is also running on the Working Families party line.

In the race for the NY State Assembly, incumbent Matt Slater (R), the former supervisor of Yorktown, is running against Zachary Couzens (D), a Mahopac resident and former intern in State Senator Peter Harckham's office who is finishing his senior year at Boston College. Slater is also running on the Conservative Party line.

The position of Town Clerk in Putnam Valley has been held on an interim basis by Kathy Diomede, following the untimely passing of Kimberly McKeown, who had been newly elected to that position last November. This spring, the Democratic Party nominated Regina Gelfer as its candidate. However, Gelfer has reportedly decided not to run. That information was not conveyed to the county's Board of Elections in time to meet the deadline, so her name remains on the ballot. As a result, Michelle Stephens (R), a clerk in the town's Building Department, is essentially running unopposed.

Nancy Montgomery (D), who represents a small sliver of Putnam Valley, is running unopposed for her seat in the County Legislature. One person is running for Town Justice: incumbent Pat Longobucco (R), and one person is seeking the County Coroner position: incumbent Wendy Erickson (R)

The battle over who will represent us in Congress remains fever-pitched between incumbent Mike Lawler (R) and former Congressman Mondaire Jones (D). This position has been the focus of enormous spending by both parties and is considered one of the pivotal contests that will determine which party controls the House of Representatives next year. Lest there are any voters who remain undecided, there will be three televised debates between the two candidates: Wednesday, Oct. 16th at 8pm on News12, Wednesday, Oct. 23rd on WCBS-TV Channel 2, and Friday, Nov. 1st on Pix11 (times TBD).

Voters need to remember to turn over their ballots, because on the back is Proposal 1, also known as NY's Equal Rights Amendment. The proposal would codify abortion rights in the state constitution and strengthen protections against discrimination for women and LGBTQI+ individuals, among others.

Of course, you can't vote if you aren't registered. You have until October 26th to complete that process - click here for more information. If you're unsure whether you're already registered, you can check here. Voters with two residences, regardless of which they consider their primary home, have the option of deciding where to cast their vote. For more information on that process, click here.

Early voting begins Oct. 26th and goes until Nov. 3rd at three locations from 9am until 5pm, except Tuesdays and Thursdays, when you can vote between noon and 8pm. To request an absentee ballot or have the option to vote early by mail, click here.

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