Election Day Underway as Voters Head to the Polls
Yisroel R.
Election Day is here, as voters across Kiryas Joel, Blooming Grove, Monroe, Woodbury, Chester, and surrounding Orange County communities are heading to the polls today, Tuesday, November 3, to cast their ballots in a series of statewide, congressional, county, and local elections.
Following nine days of early voting from October 24 through November 1, residents now have their final opportunity to vote in person, with polling locations open throughout Orange County from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
While voters throughout the area will see many of the same races at the top of their ballots, the contests farther down the ballot differ depending on where they live. Residents of Kiryas Joel and the Town of Palm Tree, for example, have a different selection of local races than voters in neighboring Blooming Grove, Monroe, Woodbury, and Chester.
Here is a breakdown of the races voters will see on their ballots across the Monroe area.
Governor: Governor Kathy Hochul is seeking another term against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive. Lieutenant Governor Adrienne Adams is running against Republican Todd Hood.
State Comptroller: State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is seeking reelection against Republican Joseph Hernandez.
Attorney General: Attorney General Letitia James is seeking reelection against Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy.
Congress: Voters in Kiryas Joel, Blooming Grove, Monroe, Woodbury, and Chester are part of New York’s 18th Congressional District, where Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan is seeking reelection against Republican challenger Jackie Mary Auringer.
The district includes much of Orange County, along with portions of Dutchess and Ulster counties. Congressman Pat Ryan is endorsed by all Mosdos, Rabbanim, and Askanim.
State Senate: The Monroe area falls within New York’s 42nd State Senate District, where Democratic State Senator James Skoufis is seeking reelection against Republican Jennifer Figueroa and Conservative candidate Joshua Blumenthal.
The district includes Kiryas Joel, Monroe, Blooming Grove, Woodbury, Chester, and several surrounding Orange County communities.
State Assembly: The Monroe area is divided among several State Assembly districts, meaning voters in neighboring communities will see different candidates on their ballots.
Kiryas Joel and the Town of Palm Tree are part of the 99th Assembly District, where Democratic Assemblyman Christopher Eachus is seeking reelection against Republican Richard Vargus. The district also extends into other portions of Orange County and neighboring Rockland County.
Other nearby communities fall into different Assembly districts. In the 98th District, which includes portions of Monroe, Republican Assemblyman Karl Brabenec is running unopposed. Portions of Blooming Grove are part of the 101st Assembly District, where Republican Assemblyman Brian Maher is also running unopposed.
Orange County Sheriff: One of the countywide races appearing on ballots throughout the area is for Orange County Sheriff, where Republican Sheriff Paul Arteta is seeking reelection against Democratic challenger Bernie Rivers.
Some Palm Tree election districts will also see a special election for the Orange County Legislature’s 1st District, where Matthew Turnbull is running on the ORANGE-1 line to fill a vacancy.
Blooming Grove Town Elections: Voters in neighboring Blooming Grove have several additional local offices on their ballots.
Town Supervisor Robert C. Jeroloman is seeking reelection against Democratic challenger Cathy Gregg-Acevedo. Town Clerk Darlena Decker and Highway Superintendent Wayne Kirkpatrick are also seeking new terms without opposition.
Blooming Grove voters will also see Town Council elections based on their ward. The candidates include Vincent Lang in Ward 1, Paul Niemann in Ward 2, John Byrnes in Ward 3, Simon Schwartz in Ward 4, John Stegenga in Ward 5, and Steven Amante in Ward 6.
Town Justice Stephen Smith is also running unopposed.
Monroe Town Elections: In the Town of Monroe, voters will see a race to fill a vacancy on the Town Council, with Democrat Richard Colon appearing on the ballot.
The exact local contests may differ depending on a voter’s election district.
Woodbury Elections: In the Town of Woodbury, Town Supervisor Jacqueline C. Hernandez is seeking reelection against Republican challenger Kathryn D. Luciani.
Woodbury voters will also see elections for two Village of Woodbury trustee seats, with Kathleen Mottola and Stephanie Powell appearing on the ballot.
Chester Elections: Voters in the Town of Chester have several contested local races, including a three-way election for highway superintendent to fill a vacancy. Walter M. Popailo, Anthony Riale, and Stephen Smith are competing for the position.
Chester voters will also elect Town Council members in four separate wards. Ward 1 features Robert G. Courtenay against Robert W. Klein, Ward 2 has Thomas Becker against Cindy Smith, Ward 3 features Stephen Diffley against Yael Block, and Ward 4 has Ryan Senning against Giuseppe Cassara.
In the Village of Chester, voters will also see elections for two village trustee seats, with Anthony LaSpina and Elizabeth A. Reilly appearing on the ballot.
Judicial Races: Voters will also see judicial contests, including elections for State Supreme Court justices in New York’s Ninth Judicial District, which includes Orange, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties.
Voters can select up to three candidates for State Supreme Court justice, with several candidates appearing across the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, and Working Families lines.
Additional Local Elections: Residents in other surrounding communities may have additional town, village, or district-specific elections appearing on their ballots. Voters are encouraged to review their individual sample ballots to see which races apply to them.
The Other Side of the Ballot: Some Town of Monroe voters will also see a proposition on the reverse side of their ballots concerning funding for the Monroe Free Library.
The proposal asks voters whether the town’s annual contribution to the library should increase by $30,000, bringing the total annual funding to $1,561,325. The additional funding would be collected through property taxes to support the library’s operations.
In Woodbury, voters will also decide a proposition concerning the Woodbury Public Library, asking whether to establish an annual town contribution of $901,194 toward the library’s operating budget.
Chester voters will see several additional propositions, including a proposed 0.75% real estate transfer tax to support community preservation, a proposal to change the town highway superintendent from an elected position to an appointed one, and a proposal to increase annual funding for the Chester Public Library by $14,394, bringing the total to $734,099.
These proposals apply to their respective municipalities and are not countywide ballot questions. Residents are encouraged to check both sides of their ballots before submitting their votes.
Where to Vote Today: Polling locations throughout Orange County are open today from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., with residents required to vote at their assigned Election Day polling location.
In Kiryas Joel and the Town of Palm Tree, polling sites include Aishes Chayil Banquet Hall on Chevron Road, Keren Plaza Banquet Hall on Forest Road, UTA Mesivta on Berdichev Drive, and Ginas Klein Hall on Ratzfert Way. The correct location depends on the voter’s election district.
Unlike early voting, when Orange County residents could vote at any of the county’s eight early voting centers, Election Day voters must report to their designated polling location based on their registered address.
Residents can confirm their polling location and review their sample ballot through the official Orange County Board of Elections website at https://www.orangecountyny.
Askanim and community leaders are urging residents to go out and exercise their right to vote, emphasizing the importance of taking part in the democratic process and having their voices heard in choosing their representatives.
With voting continuing until 9:00 p.m., Election Day brings the campaign season to a close as residents across Kiryas Joel, Monroe, Blooming Grove, Woodbury, Chester, and the surrounding area decide who will represent them in Albany, Washington, and local government.
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