Changing elections to even years for the majority of office holders in New York state will create extra large ballots, which may be difficult to print, one local election official believes.

Chautauqua County Republican Election Commissioner Brian Abram said Chautauqua County uses 17-inch ballots for elections, which they are able to print in-house. He is concerned that ballots on even years may need 22-inch ballots, which will have to be printed elsewhere at an additional expense.

“I don’t think the 22-inch ballot is the way to go,” he said. “I don’t think moving the local races to the even years is a good idea.”

One of the reasons the state Legislature has proposed moving the majority of elections to even years is to save costs, something Abram doesn’t think will happen. “I don’t see it. You can’t move the Constitutionally demanded positions like the DA (district attorney), the sheriff, the county clerk,” he said.

At the end of the state legislative session, the Assembly and Senate passed bills moving the elections of town, city, and county governments to even years.

The bills that were passed have not yet been forwarded to Gov. Kathy Hochul for her to sign or reject.

According to Lisa Hill, communications director for state Sen. George Borrello, once a bill is sent to the Executive Chamber for action by the governor, she has 10 days – not counting Sundays – to act on the bill. “However, there is no set schedule for sending the bills to the Governor’s office. The only requirement is that it happen by the end of the year,” Hill said.

Abram is also concerned that the offices of district attorney, sheriff and judicial officials may become frustrated because turnout will likely drop significantly during those odd years.

Luz Torres, Chautauqua County Democratic election commissioner, isn’t entirely against the proposal. She said some local races may get more people to the polls.

“It (turnout) could go up. Those voters that vote during a presidential election, they always vote then,” she said.

This year’s elections will made up of local races, including the two city mayors, councils and the 19 members of the Chautauqua County Legislature, along with towns and select villages that moved their elections from March.