Syracuse, NY – The Onondaga County Democratic Committee is responding to the lack of transparency in Onondaga County’s budget, passed by a party line vote 11-6 on Thursday.
Onondaga County Democratic Committee Chair Pamela Hunter said:
“Democrats have had historic gains in voter registration followed by historic wins at the polls for the last two years. Our Board of Elections has earned statewide praise for its professionalism and efficiency. They were able to pivot with every twist and turn in the political calendar, dealt with long lines at the bare minimum number of Early Voting sites, and counted a record number of absentee ballots while hampered by arbitrary Republican challenges and a COVID outbreak.
“The Republican majority on the County Legislature — at the last possible moment and with zero transparency — decided to cut the Board of Elections budget in retribution for the gains Democrats have been making.
“Democracy has a price. If we are to emerge from this pandemic ready to meet the next existential challenge, we need adequate Early Voting sites and a fully-funded Board of Elections empowered to count every ballot and engage every voter.”
