Tuesday, November 3, 2015 is general election day in New York. All registered voters are eligible to vote during the general election. The 2015 elections will be for local offices only. There is one special election for a statewide office this year in the Binghamton, NY area. The former Senator for the area, Senator Tom Libous, was convicted on federal charges and forced to resign his seat. This left an opening, and the Governor called a special election for this election to fill the vacant seat.

In November 2016, all members of the New York State Legislature will be up for reelection. All members of the Legislature are elected to two-year terms, with elections being held in even number years. Everyone in New York is represented by an Assembly member and a Senator. If you do not know who your representatives are, you can find out by visiting www.assembly.state.ny.us and www.nysenate.gov.

General elections determine which person will win the position and hold the elected position until the next election. Unlike the Primary Elections, you do not need to be a registered member of a particular party in order to vote. As long as you are a registered voter, you can vote in the General election.

Amy Kellogg is a New York State Women, Inc. member at large, a Past State President and a partner at Harter Secrest & Emery in the Albany, NY office where she practices Government Affairs. For more detailed information, she can be reached at [email protected].