Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Adirondack) warns that the New York State Court of Appeals decision upholding the 2023 Even-Year Election Law will undermine local democracy by overshadowing community-specific issues with national political noise. The law shifts most local elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years under the guise of increasing voter participation.

“This change forces town supervisors, board members, trustees and other local elected officials to compete for attention with the loud, divisive party politics and national narratives that dominate presidential and gubernatorial races,” said Simpson. “Local elections held in off-years provide a platform for addressing the unique concerns and priorities of our communities, such as property taxes and local services that directly impact our daily lives. By aligning these elections with high-profile national contests, we risk drowning out local voices and eroding an essential layer of our democratic process. Our communities should not have their concerns relegated to the back seat of national politics.”