Early voting for the general election begins on Saturday, October 23, 2023, across New York State, providing voters in Albany and Rensselaer Counties the opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of the official election day on November 4. This early voting period will last until November 2, with polling places open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday, and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday.
Voters can choose from multiple polling locations during the early voting period, unlike on election day when they must vote at their assigned site. To find their designated polling places, registered voters can visit voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.
Rensselaer County Voting Details
Residents of Rensselaer County have three locations for early voting: the Town of Brunswick Office Building at 336 Town Office Rd., Troy; Schodack Town Hall at 265 Schuurman Rd., Castleton; and the building at 500 Federal St., Troy. Each registered voter in Rensselaer County can vote at any of these sites.
The election features several key positions, including the Rensselaer County Executive seat, where incumbent Steve McLaughlin (Republican, Conservative) faces off against Tiffani Silverman (Democrat, Working Families). Additionally, all members of the Rensselaer County Legislature are up for re-election, with some candidates running uncontested.
Rensselaer County voters will also select a State Supreme Court Justice for the Third Judicial District, with candidates William T. Little Jr. (Democrat, Working Families) and Dana Lynn Salazar (Republican, Conservative) vying for the position that serves seven counties, including Albany.
Local elections include contested seats on the Troy City Council and the City of Rensselaer’s Common Council. Voters in Rensselaer will choose a Mayor, with incumbent Mike Stammel (Republican, Conservative) running against incumbent City Council President John DeFrancesco (Democrat, Working Families).
Albany County Voting Locations and Proposals
In Albany County, seven early voting locations are available for residents: the Albany County Board of Elections at 260 South Pearl St., Albany; East Berne Volunteer Fire Company at 792 Helderberg Trail, East Berne; Bethlehem Lutheran Church Parish Hall at 85 Elm Ave., Delmar; St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church at 440 Whitehall Rd., Albany; Pine Grove United Methodist Church at 1580 Central Ave., Albany; Boght Community Fire Department at 8 Preston Dr., Cohoes; and Guilderland Public Library at 2228 Western Ave., Guilderland.
This election cycle, Albany County voters will also see a proposal on the ballot regarding an amendment to allow an Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County on state forest preserve land. The amendment permits skiing and related trail facilities on a site encompassing 1,039 acres, with a requirement for the state to add 2,500 acres of new forest land in the Adirondack Park.
The ballot in Albany County will also feature candidates for the State Supreme Court seat, William T. Little Jr. and Dana Lynn Salazar. Several county-wide positions are uncontested, including Albany County Clerk Bruce Hidley, two Albany County Coroner positions held by Paul Marra and Antonio Sturges, and one Family Court position held by Jessica R. Wilcox.
In Watervliet, the City Council will experience a change with Councilmember Barbara Diamond announcing her retirement. The Watervliet Democratic Caucus has endorsed Anthony Ferrandino for the vacancy. Other municipalities, including Green Island, Watervliet, and Cohoes, will have the Albany County District 16 Legislator race on their ballots, although Maggie Alix (Democrat) is running uncontested.
As early voting commences, officials encourage all registered voters to participate and make their voices heard in this critical election.
