Primary Elections in Rensselaer County

Do you know there’s an election happening right now? Do you know who’s running? Where to vote? What’s the deal with early voting in Rensselaer County?

Hudson Mohawk Magazine has been covering stories that include access to voting, candidate interviews, voter participation, and more.

Rensselaer County Candidate Interviews

Rensselaer County Executive: HMM correspondent Corinne Carey spoke with Gwen Wright, who is running to unseat Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, about what exactly a county executive does; how her background has prepared her for the role; her priorities; and what she does when she’s not on the campaign trail. Gwen is endorsed by both the Democratic and Working Families Parties, but is being primaried on the WFP line. Her opponent did not respond to our request for an interview.

Troy City Council District 4: Landlord and voting rights advocate Emily Menn spoke with HMM correspondent Corinne Carey about why she’s running, some of the issues her district is facing, and what she’s doing when she’s not out campaigning.

Troy City Council District 5: Urban farmer and co-chair of the Troy Democratic Socialists of America, Kiani Conley-Wilson, declared her candidacy for Troy City Council’s 5th District. She spoke with HMM correspondent Corinne Carey about what prompted her to enter the race, and her priorities.

Troy City Council District 5: Cary Dresher spoke with HMM correspondent Corinne Carey about his candidacy, where he stands on police reform, and why he’s the right candidate to pick when voters go to the polls to choose between him and his primary election opponent for the Democratic Party line.

Troy City Council District 6: Marketa Edwards is challenging the candidate endorsed by the Democrats, Cheryl Kennedy, in the primary election. Edwards spoke with HMM correspondent Corinne Carey about why she chose to run for this seat, the experiences that led her to become a community leader, and the issues she hopes to tackle should she win.

Troy City Council District 6: Cheryl Kennedy spoke with HMM correspondent Corinne Carey about why she’s running, what her priorities will be should she win the seat, and her position on a number of issues facing the city. Cheryl has the nomination of Democratic party leaders, but is being challenged by Marketa Edwards for the Democratic party line.

Other Voting and Election Stories

At 1PM Friday, 6/11, a rally opposing voter suppression was taking place outside the Rensselaer County Board of Elections offices. HMM Correspondent Andrea Cunliffe recorded comments by concerned residents. Excerpts here are from: Deacon Jerry Ford, Tasheca Medina, Gwen Wright, D. Colin Charlestin, Steven Figueroa, Peter Grimm, Nora McDowell, Melissa Bromley, Emily Menn and Phil Markham. While the protest was happening, the Board of Elections announced their own offices as a fourth early voting site.

Close up image of Noreen McKee, Board Member of the Rensselaer County chapter of the League of Women Voters

Noreen McKee, Board Member of Rensselaer County’s chapter of the League of Women Voters spoke with producer Melissa Bromley about the on ruling of the New York State Attorney General’s lawsuit against Rensselaer County Board of Elections on 6/7/21 and then again on 6/9/21 after the BOE filed an appeal.

In this second of a multi-part series on New York’s redistricting process, HMM correspondent Corinne Carey spoke with Steve Elliott of the Albany County League of Women Voters. Steve talked about the politics of redistricting, efforts to reform redistricting in New York, and the LWVNYS People’s Hearing on New York State Redistricting on Thursday, April 29th

In the first of a multi-part series on New York’s redistricting process, HMM correspondent Corinne Carey spoke with Richard Rifkin, former Legal Director at the Government Law Center at Albany Law School and current member of the Albany County League of Women Voters, and the county’s delegate on redistricting to the League of Women Voters of New York State (LWVNYS). Richard and Corinne talked about the basics of redistricting, the origin of the term “gerrymandering,” and fairness in the process.

Melanie Trimble of the Capital District chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union discusses the ongoing effort to provide a more central site in the City of Troy for early voting in Rensselaer County, by Mark Dunlea on 5/17/21.

Jennifer Wilson

Jennifer Wilson, Deputy Director of the League of Women Voters of New York State, talks about expanding access to voting and redistricting and COVID-19, by Corinne Carey, 1/13/21.

Guidance on 2020 General Voting with Patricia Jordan of the Troy Chapter of the NAACP, by Renee Powell, 10/23/20.

Joel Berg of Hunger Free America discusses efforts to increase voting among low-income individuals, by Mark Dunlea, 10/20/20.

Geoffrey Miller and Grace Giancola from Russell Sage College on programs to encourage and promote 2020 student voting, by Corrine Carey, 9/15/20.

Renee Powell about how Troy residents aren’t getting an early voting site, by Corinne Carey, 9/12/19.

For more information about how and where to vote in Rensselaer County during the primary election, visit the Board of Elections website, and remember:

And you can visit Vote411.org for more info!

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