Starting Tuesday, Feb. 24, a very unusual thing will be happening in New York state. People will be knocking on your door and talking to you in person. No texting, emails, TV or for some radio. Real live people.

It is ballot petitioning season. For most offices in New York candidates must collect a certain number of signatures to get their name on the ballot. Petitioning takes place now, in late winter, for both the primary and general election. To claim a spot on the ballot for one of the four political parties, Democrat, Republican, Working Families Party, and Conservative, the candidate must get signatures from individuals in their district who are registered with that party.

Primaries will be held June 23, 2026.

Why is the primary election important? It means that more than one person is trying to run on those party lines. Thus, more candidates have a chance to describe what they feel is best for our country, county, and towns. This year our U.S. Representative, Elise Stefanik, has decided not to run again. This leaves her seat open. So far, we have five candidates that will be submitting petitions to for that office, three Democrats and two Republicans. Only one candidate for each party will be chosen. Although it is perfectly acceptable for a candidate to also run independent campaigns. Many campaigns choose to do both.

Why is that important to the voters? It gives the voters choices.

The primary election offers many choices of candidates, room for many candidates to offer their unique solutions to issues in our governments, and time for the voters to think about and discuss the issues that are important.

The primary elections are perhaps the most democratic thing about our election system.

This is a time to truly practice our democratic form of government by allowing a variety of people to run for office. The petitioners get to talk directly to the voters about the candidate and then the voter gets to sign the petition of the candidate of their choice.

Sue Abbott-Jones

Saranac Lake