Tomorrow is primary day in Greenburgh for federal offices. Congressman Eliot Engel, who represents parts of Greenburgh, is being challenged by Joyce Briscoe, Jonathan Lewis and Derickson Lawrence. Polls are open from 6 AM to 9 PM at the polling place you usually vote at. There are primaries for other congressional seats being held around NYS.
On September 13th—a few months from now there is another primary contest for Governor, Lt. Governor, State Legislators, Attorney General of NYS. Every election is very expensive –taxpayers have to pay significant dollars for election inspectors and all the costs of running an election. The county now oversees elections but bills the cost of elections to the local governments. Greenburgh budgeted over $205,000 for primary and election day expenses in 2018.
The question I have is this: Why do we need two separate primary elections dates for federal and state offices? In some years past all primaries were held on the same day. I believe that all primaries-for both state and federal offices should be held on the same day. New York State taxpayers would probably save millions of dollars if the election dates for federal and state offices were consolidated by members of the NYS Legislature and the Governor. There is absolutely no public policy benefit to the taxpayers to have separate primary elections. Having two separate elections probably results in REDUCED VOTER PARTICIPATION—not more participation.
Westchester has the highest property taxes in the country. Greenburgh taxpayers could probably have saved close to $100,000 if the primary dates were consolidated into one. And, Westchester taxpayers would probably have saved over a million dollars. NYS taxpayers are throwing out millions of dollars that could have been used to keep taxes down or for important services.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
