Write a commentA common refrain heard during election season is that my vote doesn't count.
But right here in Oswego County, local history proves that "every vote counts" is a mathematical reality, not just a slogan.
Did you know that every single local, county, state and congressional election in the country is decided entirely by direct popular vote with the exception of the Presidential race, which uses the Electoral College. The candidate or proposition with the most votes wins, meaning you can literally win by one vote. Because voter turnout in local town, county and state contests is traditionally much lower in the mid-term elections than presidential elections, the margins are routinely razor-thin, and Oswego County is no exception.
Look at our own local history. In a past budget proposition for the Fulton Public Library, the entire measure came down to a tally of 543 votes in favor and 544 votes opposed. A single individual held the tie-breaking power over a $50,000 community funding decision. In recent city and town council contests, margins of 11, 22, or 73 votes regularly decide who leads our communities. In 2022, the State Senate District 50 race spanning our county triggered a full manual hand-recount because out of 123,000 ballots cast, the candidates were separated by a mere 51 votes. Most recently the race for the NY 120 Assembly democratic nominee was decided by 26 votes. These are just a few of the many examples.
This leverage is magnified even further during our June primaries. Because New York uses a closed primary system, meaning you must be registered with a specific party to participate. Turnout for these primaries is traditionally microscopic—often just 10% to 15%. Mathematically, this means your individual primary ballot is worth five times as much as a vote in November.
Think of it this way: if you only show up to vote in November, you are eating a meal where someone else already chose the ingredients. The primary is where you actually design the menu. Skipping it allows a tiny minority of voters to dictate who is allowed on the ballot in the fall. But designing the menu is only the first half; the General Election in November is where the meal is served and turns that leverage into leadership.
When local elections end in a dead heat, NY law sometimes leaves the outcome to a coin flip or drawing names out of a hat. Don't leave Oswego County's future to chance. Whether it is a June primary or a November general election, your vote matters. There is no excuse not to vote, there is early voting, mail-in voting, absentee voting and of course election day voting. There is a general election on November 3, 2026, educate yourself on the issues and the candidates be the voice that breaks the tie. GO VOTE!
Glen Stratton,
Retired Wildland Firefighter
Candidate for Oswego County Legislature, District 3
Pulaski, NY
