November’s election will determine who ultimately holds key positions in local government. These ballots were last updated by the Monroe County Board of Elections on September 17.

Who Can Vote?

To vote in New York, one must be a United States citizen who will be 18 years old by the date of the next election. Also, a voter must have been a resident of his or her state, county, city, or village for at least 30 days prior to the election. Here are some resources to check your status ahead of the aforementioned deadlines:

• Check to see if you’re a registered voter
• Check your current party enrollment
• Online voter registration form
• View your polling place

On Election Day

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5 and polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

According to the New York State Board of Elections, "As a registered voter, you may take off up to 3 hours, without loss of pay, to allow you time to vote. You may take time off at the beginning or end of your working shift, as your employer may designate, unless otherwise mutually agreed."

If you live in Monroe County and are in need of a ride to the polls you can contact the following organizations:

• Monroe County Democratic Committee - Phone: 585-434-1620

• Monroe County Republican Committee - Phone: 585-546-8040

Key Races to Watch:

City Council:

East District

• Mary Lupien (Democrat/Working Families)
• David Sutliff-Atias (Green)

Elaine Spaull, the current East District representative, is not seeking re-election.

Northeast District

• Michael Patterson (Democrat)
• Chris Edes (Green/Libertarian)

Patterson currently holds the district seat.

Northwest District

• Jose Peo (Democrat)

Molly Clifford, the current Northwest District representative is not seeking re-election.

South District

• LaShay Harris (Democrat/Working Families)
• Marcus Williams (Republican)
• Alex White (Green)

Harris was named to fill the seat on an interim basis after former councilman Adam McFadden pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and filing a false tax return, but she’s looking to win the seat for a full term.

County Executive:

Democrat challenger and current Monroe County Clerk Adam Bello and incumbent Republican Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo will face off this election.

The two politicians went head to head in the June primary despite being from different political parties.

Why is that? Independence party designation. The Monroe County Independence Party endorsed Dinolfo, while the New York State Independence Party endorsed Bello.

Dinolfo, who won the primary, will appear under Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines.

Experts say the primary vote serves as an indicative preview of how registered independence party members are likely to vote come Election Day.

County Court Judge:

• Karen Turner (Democrat/Working Families)
• Michael Dollinger (Democrat/Independence)
• Kyle Steinebach (Republican/Conservative)
• John DeMarco (Republican/Conservative/Independence/Libertarian/Working Families)

City Court Judge:

• Nicole Morris (Democrat/Working Families)
• Melissa Barrett (Democrat/Working Families)

County Legislature Races:

2nd District

• Karen LoBracco (Democrat/Working Families)
• Jackie Smith (Republican/Conservative/Libertarian/Independence)

3rd District

• Marvin Stepherson (Democrat/Working Families)
• Tracey DiFlorio (Republican/Conservative/Libertarian/Independence)

• Josh Mack, Jr. (Democrat/Working Families)
• Frank Allkofer (Republican/Conservative/Libertarian/Independence)

• Terry Daniele (Democrat/Working Families)
• Karla Boyce (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Dan Maloney (Democrat/Working Families/Liberatarian)
• Fred Ancello (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

7th District

• James Leary, Jr. (Democrat/Working Families)
• Brian Marianetti (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Megan Thompson (Democrat/Working Families)
• Matthew Terp (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Catherine Dean (Democrat/Working Families)
• Paul Dondorfer (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Howard Maffucci (Democrat/Working Families)

• Joshua Foladare (Democrat/Working Families)
• Sean Delehanty (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Steve Brew (Republican/Conservative/Libertarian/Independence)

• Michael Yudelson (Democrat/Working Families)
• Matthew Borkowski (Republican/Conservative/Libertarian/Independence)

• Justin Wilcox (Democrat)

• Butch Fitzsimmons (Democrat/Working Families)
• George Hebert (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Lorie Lachiusa Barnum (Democrat)
• Joe Carbone (Republican/Conservative/Libertarian/Independence/Working Families)

• Joseph Morelle, Jr. (Democrat/Working Families/Independence)
• Gregory Devlin (Republican/Conservative)

• John Baynes (Democrat/Working Families) 
• Kara Halstead (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Gino Nitti (Democrat/Working Families)
• Kathleen Taylor (Republican/Conservative/Independence)
• Will Phillips (Libertarian)

• JW Cook (Democrat/Working Families)
• Michael Zale (Republican/Conservative/Independence)

• Rachel Barnhart (Democrat)
• Victor Sanchez (Working Families)

Sanchez, a local college graduate and current employee with Wegmans Development Group, earned the endorsement from the Monroe County Democratic Party at the nominating convention back in January.

However, Barnhart, a former TV journalist who has also previously ran and lost in races for Congress, state Assembly, and Rochester Mayor, filed enough petitions to get on the primary ballot.

The endorsement for Sanchez prompted some district committee members to go on social media and dispute the designating process. A letter, cosigned by several committee members, said ballots for a second vote to break a tie were not sealed or secured in a lock box. They added that scheduling a second vote fell out outside bylaws.

A party spokesperson says both votes were done in accordance within the bylaws. However, the members that cosigned that letter say they believe this process was unfair to both Sanchez and Barnhart. 

In the end, Barnhart won the primary.

She was appointed to the seat in September after Mark Muio moved out of the district and resigned. 

22nd District

• Vincent Felder (Democrat)

• Linda Hasman (Democrat/Working Families)

• Joshua Bauroth (Democrat/Working Families)

• John Lightfoot (Democrat)

• Yversha Roman (Democrat/Working Families) 
• Orlando Rivera (Republican/Conservative)
• Tony Micciche (Libertarian/Independence)

• Sabrina Lamar (Democrat)

28th District

• Frank Keophetlasy (Democrat/Working Families)

29th District

• Ernest Flagler (Democrat)

For the complete list of candidates and races, including elections for commissioner of schools, various town supervisors, town justices, town trustees, town councils, and more in Monroe County, visit this Board of Elections directory.