The Primarily Election is Tuesday, September 14. The primaries are different from the general election. It is the day that members of the various political parties select their candidate for the November general election.  People will not be elected to serve on the 14^th – but it will narrow the field for the November ballot. Primary winners still have to be elected in the November General Election to actually take office.

Personally, I like this process. Instead of party leaders selecting candidates, the members of the party have a say in the process. This gives newcomers the possibility of becoming a candidate, rather than just party boss favorites.

This year the Republican, Democratic, and even the Conservative Parties will have primaries. New York has what is called a “closed primary.” This means that you must be registered in a specific party to vote in that party’s primary. In other words, only Republicans can vote in the Republican Primary, or Democrats in the Democratic Primary.

The problem is most people do not vote in the primary. It is a shame. Your vote has more “weight” in a primary than a general election.  In some cases, the only challenge to an incumbent legislator will be in the primary. In 2008, approximately one third of legislators ran without opposition in the general election.

So let your voice be heard on Tuesday, September 14^th – go to the polls and vote!