The relocation of migrants from New York City to the northern suburbs could be an animating factor in getting people to the polls during Tuesday's primary elections. But then again, it may not be. 

It depends on turnout, said veteran journalist Larry Levy, executive dean at the National Center of Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

If there is higher than usual turnout, it could mean that voters are engaged.

“A higher turnout could mean that folks are focused on one side or the other or both,” Levy told Capital Tonight. “That’s the first thing to look at. If it’s the normal low turnout, there’s not much you can make of that.”

There are several cities in the Hudson Valley, including New Rochelle, Yonkers, Kingston and Poughkeepsie, that are near where migrants have been re-located from New York City, or have been discussed as possible locations. The bus trips from New York City to upstate hotels have been the subject of much media and political attention.

But Levy warns not to put too much stock in what local primaries may tell us about next year’s more widely discussed ballot. 

“In the end, until you have a race where there is a major figure at the top of the ticket that people know, who will spend tens of millions of dollars, where the brands of the party and the particular accomplishments, or lack of accomplishments of a particular person, like a governor, or a president (are at stake), you’re not going to get an accurate presentation of what the next big election is going to look like,” he said.