ALBANY – The state’s highest court rejected arguments from several counties on Thursday that a state law approved to move most elections from odd to even-numbered years violates the state Constitution.
The Court of Appeals ruled in a unanimous decision that the state had the legal power to change when those elections are scheduled. …The law covers town and county offices — such as county executive and town supervisor — which are typically elected in odd-numbered years, opposite national and statewide contests…
Supporters of the law say aligning local elections with higher-profile contests will help increase voter turnout. Critics, however, warn that the shift could drown out local issues, forcing them to compete with the broader attention given to state and national races.