Low Turnout Predicted for Late-Summer, Last-Minute New York Primary Deemed ‘Confusing’

New Yorkers head to the polls on Tuesday for their second primary in two months.

Politicos predict historically low turnout. Not only are voters confused about why, after they voted on June 28, they have to vote again, but it’s altogether the wrong time for a primary. In New York State, where school doesn’t start until after Labor Day, the last week in August is all about cookouts, beach vacations, and the last moments to enjoy summer.

Estimates of turnout for primaries in Congressional and State Senate races run as low as 10 percent. Twenty percent is average for a primary, and it’s pretty good if more than 20 percent show up, said Carl Calabrese, a retired political consultant. He understands elections first hand: he was elected Town Supervisor of Tonawanda, one of Buffalo’s more populous suburbs, serving eight years, and later was deputy to Erie County’s elected county executive.

Making matters more confusing, several districts feature special elections to fill vacant seats. The winners of these races next Tuesday are going to Congress but only for a few months, unless they are also running in November and win then. Such districts have two races simultaneously on Tuesday’s ballot: a primary for November elections and a special general election.

Carl Calabrese, retired political consultant. (Supplied)

Meanwhile, various incumbents across the state found themselves running in new districts where they don’t necessarily live. Incumbents’ changing districts have caused chain reactions, prompting other incumbents to also make moves. Several observers mentioned Democrat Mondaire Jones of the old  District 17 moving from New York’s northern suburbs, Westchester and Rockland County, to run for the new District 10 encompassing lower Manhattan—places like Wall Street, Greenwich Village, and Chinatown—and parts of Brooklyn.

“This is the most confusing election I’ve ever seen,” Calabrese said.

The second