ALBANY, NY (WENY)--Certain local elections used to run on odd numbered years. This year New York State lawmakers passed a bill to change this. 

Sen. James Skoufis (D-42nd Senate District), a sponsor of the bill, stated in an email to WENY News this legislation will increase voter turnout. 

"When New York's voter turnout is low, the power to elect our local officials is concentrated in the hands of the few. By shifting elections to years when we know folks are more inclined to come out and vote, we're enabling more representative local governments that are responsive and accountable to a wider plurality of constituents," wrote Sen. Skoufis. 

The legislation would move certain local elections such as county executives, county legislators, and town board races to even numbered years. 

The bill was heavily debated on the floor in both houses in the final hours of session. Some Republican lawmakers said this legislation, creating a longer ballot, could overwhelm voters. 

“Cramming all the other races into even years is going to be a disservice to the electoral process and the lack of knowledge of the candidates and the issues at the lower level of the voter going into the polls,” said Sen. Tom O’Mara (R-Big Flats). 

Some advocates said New Yorkers have various tools to help keep them informed and navigate ballots such as non-partisan voter guides, endorsement lists, and local media reporting. 

Ben Weinberg, Director of Public Policy at Citizens Union said aligning local elections to years of higher office elections will help increase voter turnout and bring the electorate closer to the demographics of the population. 

“Voters are informed not only by what they read in the press but also by their life experience and their background. So, the greater diversity of voters we have the greater the diversity of those experiences that can shape the vote and our policies and that’s a good thing,” Weinberg said. 

The bill, if signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, would not effect elections this year.