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Ithaca organizations are pushing to increase voter turnout as early voting begins

Online Niel October 30, 2024

Early voting in New York began Saturday, launching a final sprint by local organizations to increase turnout and engage voters.

New York’s 19th Congressional District is extremely competitive, with the Cook Political Report rating the district as a “toss-up” in the 2024 election.

With these high stakes in mind, local organizations are stepping up their outreach efforts to inform voters about key candidates and ballot measures both locally and nationally.

League of Women Voters of Tompkins County

Founded in 1920 after women won the right to vote, The League of Women Voters of Tompkins County is a nonpartisan organization that registers and educates voters about national, state, and local elections and issues.

LWV national services VOTE411a guide that informs voters about elections taking place in their specific constituencies based on their home addresses. The guide also provides information about each candidate’s background and political stance and other voter initiatives that will be on the ballot.

Sally Grubb, co-chair and voter services committee chair of the Tompkins County LWV, said it’s important to be strategic in talking to community members when engaging in voter outreach.

“(When) you’re talking to people with young kids, you’re talking to a different generation that has different issues than say, as a senior, that I have,” Grubb said. “They are more interested in educational issues. So you have to approach them on that basis to say, ‘Are you ready to vote? Are you going to vote? Can we give you information about what’s going on?”

Grubb emphasized the importance of individual participation, stressing that every vote counts.

“One vote can elect someone, and not voting is neither supporting that person nor preventing them from being elected,” Grubb said. “Giving up isn’t really the answer.”

Enjoy voting

With the aim of turning voting into a joyous celebration, Enjoy voting is a non-partisan, non-profit organization based in Tompkins County, “honoring the history of the struggle for voting rights, celebrating voting in the present, and challenging the future to strengthen the democratic foundations.”

This year is the second time Rejoice the Vote has hosted Votingest County Challengeawarding a trophy to the counties with the highest voter turnout in New York. In 2020, the challenge focused on cities, with Albany winning among the larger cities and Saratoga Springs leading the smaller ones. Since then, the competition has switched to a county format to include all voters, not just those in urban areas. Additionally, since voter turnout is calculated at the county level, the format would simplify the calculation process.

Jeff Furman, founder of Rejoice the Vote, explained how the challenge rewards voter participation.

“We will award a large county and a small county that have the highest percentage of eligible voters actually voting,” Furman said. “We’ll wait for the (voter turnout) numbers and then do the math in each of the 62 counties in New York State.”

Rejoice the Vote also celebrates youth activism through both art and film to inspire voter participation. One of its national initiatives includes a art competition celebrating youth advocates for voting rights.

Furman emphasized how storytelling through film also amplifies the voices of young people.

“We made (a) film with local filmmakers here about what young people are doing around the country,” Furman said. “(The fundraising) came through Rejoice the Vote and they (put) the film together. (It’s) about an eight-minute film called Youth in Power. So it’s just honoring young people who are working.”

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund

The Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building political power around Planned Parenthood’s legislative priorities and advancing reproductive rights and health care.

Caitlin Hunter, community organizer for Ithaca, said the organization’s goal this election cycle is to educate and engage New Yorkers about Proposition 1, also called the Equal Rights Amendment.

Proposition 1 it’s one of six measures New Yorkers will pass vote on, along with the presidential, Senate, state Legislature and Congressional races.

If it’s past, it will be guarantee “equal protection” against discrimination based on “sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy,” in addition to traits that were protected under previous laws, such as race, ethnicity and national origin.

Hunter urged voters to return their ballots to make sure they don’t miss these critical ballot measures.

“We have these protections as laws, but at any moment, a government official could walk into the legislature or an office and remove those laws,” Hunter explained. “By advancing Proposition 1, by having New Yorkers vote yes, we are enshrining these protections in our Constitution, ensuring that power rests with the people, not politicians.”

Hunter said Ithaca voters are often short-term residents of the city, so community involvement is the most effective way to engage and educate the local electorate about their registration status and local issues like Prop 1.

Hunter has high hopes for passage of Proposition 1, citing the overall positive response he’s received from voters and the city’s high political commitment.

Tompkins County Democratic Committee

With one week left until election day Tompkins County Democratic Committee is stepping up voter outreach efforts across the country with coordinated campaigns of Josh Riley in the NY-19 Congressional race, Leah Webb for the State Senate and Anna Kelles for the State Assembly.

TCDC President Linda Hoffman said polls and phone and text banking are critical tools for informing registered voters and helping undecided voters make their choices.

Last week, the Tompkins County Democratic Committee knocked on 22,000 doors to make sure people had a plan to vote, according to Hoffman. While canvassing, they bring information about Riley, Webb and Kelles and Proposition 1.

In this final stage of the election cycle, Hoffman said the main challenge is making sure people are informed about polling places and times.

“It is essential that every voter has a plan for when they will vote. To do this is to check and with Tompkins County Board of Elections.”

TCDC encourages early voting and bidder free transportation for Cornell students to polling places to make voting more accessible. Students and locals can also request a ride or volunteer to be a driver by calling campaign headquarters at 607-319-0327.

Ithaca Republican Committee and Tompkins County Republicans

Both those Ithaca Republican Committee and the Tompkins County Republicans did not respond to multiple requests for comment on their voter engagement efforts.

How to vote

Early voting in New York runs from October 26 to November 3. Anyone registered as a Tompkins County voter who wishes to vote early can do so at Ithaca City Hall at 215 N. Tioga St. or Crash Fire Rescue at 72 Brown Rd. Opening hours for each early voting day can be found on Tompkins County Early Voting web page.
Election day is Tuesday, November 5, and polling stations will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. A list of all polling stations is available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections. The Robert Purcell Community Center will be the only polling place on campus.

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Ithaca organizations are pushing to increase voter turnout as early voting begins

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Ithaca organizations are pushing to increase voter turnout as early voting begins

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