Thursday the deadline to switch parties

Acting Supreme Court Justice Patrick McAllister issued an order setting Thursday as the deadline for voters to change or designate their party enrollment for the Aug. 23 primaries, the state Board of Elections announced Friday.

Any enrollment change request received on or after Friday will not be effective until seven days after the August primary. After that date, any enrollment changes would be effective immediately until the Feb. 14 deadline.

Voters can change their party enrollment online with a valid Department of Motor Vehicles-issued ID or license using the DMV's online voter registration portal, or by completing a paper registration form and returning it to their county's Board of Elections. Any change of party enrollment done via the DMV site requires an extra day to allow for transmission, therefore it must be completed by Wednesday to be effective for the August primary.

The Congressional and state Senate primary will be Aug. 23. Early voting will take place from Aug. 13 to Aug. 21. If you have any questions about the party enrollment deadline, you can contact the state Board of Elections at 518-474-1953 or by email at INFO@elections.ny.gov.

In the greater Cortland area:

• In the 19th Congressional District, Josh Riley of Tompkins County and Jamie Cheney of Dutchess County seek the Democratic nomination. Marc Molinaro of Dutchess County is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
• In the 24th Congressional District, which includes Cayuga County, Mario Fratto of Ontario County, George Phillips of Broome County and Claudia Tenney of Oneida County seek the Republican nomination. Steven Holden of Onondaga County is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
• In the 52nd state Senate District, Leslie Danks Burke of Tompkins County and Lea Webb of Broome County seek the Democratic nomination. Rich David of Broome County is unopposed for the Republican nomination.