Consolidating Primaries in New York Could Save Millions

Article February 18, 2014 Read time:

Projects: Election Initiatives

Lawmakers estimate that New York could save almost $50 million if it consolidated its state and federal primary elections. In 2012, the state moved its federal primaries from September to June to accommodate the congressional mandate that military and overseas voters receive ballots 45 days prior to a general election. The state primaries are held in September.

Assembly Bill 8198 would require that state and federal primary elections be held on the same day, a change that, in addition to the estimated cost savings, supporters say would increase participation in the state primary and ensure that military and overseas voters have adequate time to cast ballots in both primaries. The bill passed the Assembly in January 2014 and is under consideration in the Senate.