Everything you need to know to be an informed voter.

 Important Dates for the November Election | 2025 Candidate Forums Recordings | September 2025 Voter Services Report | July-August 2025 Voter Services Report | Schenectady Board of Education Candidate Forum | The SAVE Act | Running for Political Office |  Voter Publications | How We Elect Our Representatives | Candidate Forum Policy | Links to Local Boards | City Council and Town Board Meetings | Schenectady County Legislature Meetings | State-Wide Politics and Financial Disclosures

Important Dates for the November Election

Registration:  Mail-In and Online Registration due October 25, 2025, check status here

Ballot Options:  Early Mail Ballot (Oct. 25-Nov. 2);  Absentee Ballot (Oct. 25- Nov. 2).  Request Ballot here

Early Voting:  Early Voting (Oct. 25-Nov. 2); find Early Voting Site here

Election Day Voting:  2025 General Election November 4th, 2025.  Check status and find polling site here

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2025 Candidate Forums Recordings

The LWV of Schenectady County is holding candidate forums for the following muniipalities:

Town of Rotterdam, September 25, view the recording

Town of Glenville, Sept 29, view the recording

Schenectady, October 9, view the recording

Town of Niskayuna, October 16

All forums are recorded and will be posted as they become available.

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September 2025 Voter services Report

Please check the sign-up sheet to volunteer:  LWV voter registration

The race is on!

On the national front: Redrawing congressional districts.

The margins in Congress are narrow, and two states are in the process of redrawing their congressional maps to favor one political party over the other. And more states may join the fray. Normally, the old maps would be set until the next census (in 2030). But these are not normal times.

Texas’ legislature has voted to accept re-drawn voting maps to shift the makeup of its congressional delegation by five seats. California has an independent redistricting commission but wants to issue new maps, also shifting five seats, to counter the action by Texas. California voters will weigh in on the new maps in November. More states may join fray.

New York doesn’t have that option. Our independent redistricting commission is written into the state constitution, and any amendment would need to pass the state legislature over two consecutive sessions before it could go to the voters, at least a two-year process. Too late for the current round of extreme gerrymandering.

Here in New York: Voting reforms.

However, New York can address voters’ nearly universal dissatisfaction with the political process (Why must I choose between the lesser of two evils? Does my vote even count?) and mitigate the effects of any gerrymandering the state does have. How? By passing legislation to make voting fairer and more equal—by adopting open primaries and ranked-choice voting. LWV NYS supports these voting reforms.

Open primaries allow every registered voter to vote in a primary, whether, or not, they belong to a political party. All candidates are on the ballot; voters choose the one they like best. A larger field of candidates encourages voters to pay more attention to primary contests because they are not bound by their party’s choices; voters not registered with a party are no longer shut out. The top four vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election. Open primaries expand all voters’ options. It encourages people to pay more attention, maybe even show up at the polls.  When voters are freed from party strictures, they may be encouraged to learn more about the candidates and decide to vote.
 
With ranked-choice voting, voters rank each candidate according to their preference, from one to four. Votes are tallied, the candidate with the lowest ranking is eliminated, and the votes are redistributed. The winner is the candidate generally agreed upon by the voters. Ranked-choice voting encourages voters to seriously look at all four candidates, because while their first choice may not win, their second choice may.
 
Fewer people vote in general elections; even fewer vote in primary races. Instead, citizens are voting with their feet—away from the polls. This is dangerous for our communities and our democracy. The current system is not working. It’s time to do something different.

Volunteers needed:

• · Carrot Festival, Agudat Achim, Niskayuna. Sunday, September 14, 12-2:30 pm
• · National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 16:
  • Fulton-Montgomery Community College, 11 am-2 pm
  • Price Chopper, Glenville, 3-6 pm
  • Price Chopper, Eastern Parkway, 3-6 pm

Please check the sign-up sheet to volunteer for these and other sites:  LWV voter registration.

Joan Fucillo, Voter Services

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July-August 2025 Voter Services Report

In June and July, our League staffed voter registration tables at two Schenectady Greenmarkets, the Kids’ Arts Festival, the Juneteenth celebration in Central Park and Schenectady’s Summernight music event.

And, we hosted a rally on Thursday, July 17 at Collins Park in Scotia, part of a nationwide effort to honor the late Congressman John Lewis: “Good Trouble Lives On.” Well over 200 people showed up with signs, some with noisemakers and all with enthusiasm. Attendees lined up on both sides of Mohawk Avenue waving their signs and encouraging honking from passing cars (they were richly rewarded); they came back to our tent to hear speakers from NAACP, UniteNY and the First United Methodist Church. League members then led a march across the Western Gateway Bridge from Scotia to Schenectady and back again.

Results:

New member inquiries; a front-page article in Saturday’s Schenectady Gazette; and happy people stopping at our table at Sunday’s Greenmarket asking, ‘Was that you?!’ and saying, ‘Thank you!’ 

Question:

Did we register a lot of voters at these events? Answer: Very few. Follow-up question: Isn’t that the point? Answer: No, not really.

Our League’s mission may start with registration, but we’re here for the long haul. Our charge includes giving people clear-eyed, factual and non-partisan information, explaining why voting counts and the effect their vote has on their communities. When we hold candidate forums, voters can see (and hear and question) would-be officeholders’ policies and goals, and post-election, have the knowledge to take politicians to task if they fall short.

Because, despite a pervasive air of skepticism about government, voters want to know their vote matters; they want to know what’s at stake; and they want to be heard. At our tables and our forums, we give people information; at our rallies, we give people a platform to voice their concerns. Together, that gives people hope, and hope is energizing.

Kudos to rally Cheryl, Ellen, Janet, Susan, Elaine, Bill, Nancy, Bill, Tina and everyone who planned, plotted and ensured the safety of all rallygoers. 

Joan Fucillo
Voter Services

We recently lost the chance to work with a local faith group, because we didn’t have anyone to staff the event. Let’s not let another opportunity slip by!  Use the link to sign up for voter registration. 

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Schenectady Board of Education Candidate Forum

The League of women voters of Schenectady County held a Board of Education candidates forum.  In case you missed it or want to see it again, you can watch the YouTube recording.

The NAACP and LWV Schenectady County collaborated on a virtual candidate forum which is available on NAACP's Facebook page.

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The SAVE Act Makes it Much Harder to Register to Vote

The SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) is up before Congress. The act is based on the idea that noncitizens are voting in droves. They are not; it is illegal; and there is almost no evidence to support this.

The SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship to register, but few IDs qualify

• A valid passport qualifies because it is a government photo ID with proof of citizenship
• No passport? Need government photo ID + birth certificate
• Birth certificate doesn’t match photo ID (changed name upon marriage)? Need government photo ID + birth certificate + name change document
• Only some Real IDs and military IDs qualify; tribal IDs do not

Under the SAVE Act,

• Voters must register in person at a government office
• Voters must re-register in person if they’ve moved
• Voters must re-register in person if they want to change their name
• Voters must re-register in person if they want to change political parties
• Many people in rural areas would have to travel long distances to register to vote
• People who rely on public transportation may find that the closest government office is a mile or more away from the nearest bus stop.
• Private individuals are allowed to challenge election workers, who could face lawsuits or criminal charges
• Upon passage, the SAVE Act would take effect immediately

Say “NO” to the SAVE Act

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Have you ever wondered how to run for political office?  

VOTER INFORMATION PUBLICATIONS:

FIRST VOTE:

English    Spanish

 YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN NEW YOUR STATE:

College Students Brochure  

Individuals with Disabilities Brochure

Homeless Individuals Brochure

Individuals with Criminal Convictions and Those Detained in Jail or Prison Brochure

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How We Elect Our Representatives

Do you know how we elect our Representatives?  Why not test your skills.

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