PRESS RELEASE
February 5, 2008

Presidential Primary Poll Hours Should Be Expanded Upstate

Upstaters Should Be Given Same Convenience as Downstaters

Polling hours for future presidential primaries should be expanded in upstate New York to give upstate residents the same convenience as downstate residents, Legislator Martin Reid.

Downstate residents have the ability to vote from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in today’s presidential primaries but upstate residents can only go to the polls between 12 noon to 9 p.m. Reid said the state should provide a level playing field for all state voters in something as important as presidential primaries.

Several calls were made to the county Board of Elections and legislative offices today by residents confused as to when polling places open or citing difficulty in reaching the polls by 9 p.m., noted Reid.

“It is inexplicable to me why upstate voters are treated differently than downstate voters. This is a primary to select nominees for president, and it hugely important to so many residents,” said Reid.

Reid said he would like state officials to review expanding poll hours for other federal and state primaries. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. downstate in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam counties, with Erie County the only upstate county allowed those hours.

“There should be the same hours upstate that there is downstate, and upstate voters should not be inconvenienced in future presidential primaries. The state should also review other federal and state primaries and consider expanding the hours in the future,” said Reid.

“It just doesn’t seem fair that in so many ways upstate residents are treated differently than downstate residents. We need to recognize that all voters have the same rights and should be given the same privileges and conveniences,” added Reid.

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