General Election preview: 2025 Central New York Election Guide

When is Election Day?

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Voters across New York can vote in person that day. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.

How do I register to vote, or check my registration status?

The deadline to register to vote in this election has passed. It was Saturday, Oct. 25.

To check your registration status, or to find your polling place, visit the NYS Board of Elections site.

Where do I vote?

You can find your polling place at the NYS Board of Elections site.

What’s early voting?

In New York, early voting began Saturday, Oct. 25 and ended Sunday, Nov. 2.

You can vote early by mail in New York. You must request a mail-in ballot from the state election board and return it before Nov. 4. If mailing the ballot, it must be postmarked no later than Nov. 4.

How and when will I know who won?

Election results will be posted live locally on the Onondaga County Board of Elections site.

Syracuse.com will share live results from local races as they come in, as well as updates from candidates’ events.

The results of some races may not be known until after election day, if they are very close.

Who is on the ballot in Central New York?

Here’s a complete list of who is on the ballot in Central New York. The biggest races include contests for Syracuse mayor and the Onondaga County legislature.

Here’s who is running in those races:

Syracuse mayor

Sharon Owens (D, WFP)
Thomas Babilon (R)
Alfonso Davis
Tim Rudd

Syracuse mayoral candidates on 9 big issues

Look back at our weekly series asking the four people on the ballot key questions in the race to replace Ben Walsh.

Syracuse Common Council

All five district seats, two at-large seats, and the council presidency are all up for election this year. None of the races are contested. The candidates -- all Democrats -- are:

Rita Paniagua (council president)
Hanah Ehrenreich (at-large)
Rasheada Caldwell (at-large)
Marty Nave (1st district)
Donna Moore (2nd district)
Corey Williams (3rd district)
Patrona Jones-Rowser (4th district)
Jimmy Monto (5th district)

Syracuse School Board

There are three open seats on the city school board. Three Democrats and one Republican are on the ballot:

Twiggy Billue (D, WFP)
Karen Cordano (D, WFP)
Michael Root (D)
Jason Petrone (R)

Candidates for Syracuse city school board

Meet the candidates for Syracuse School Board

Syracuse voters will pick three people from a field of four candidates and one write-in campaign.

Onondaga County Legislature

All 17 seats on the county legislature are up for election this year. There are contested races in these six districts:

District 4

Jeremiah Thompson (D, WFP)
Colleen Gunnip (R, C)

District 5

Ellen Block (D)
David Carnie (R, C)

District 6

Gregory Eriksen (D)
Julie Abbott (R, C)

District 8

Chad Ryan (D, WFP)
Shawn Fiato (R, C)

District 9

Bonnke Sekarore (R, C/TN)
Nicole Watts (WFP, NR)
Kenyata Calloway (NNP)

District 10

Elaine Denton (D, WFP)
Mark Olson (R, C)

William Kinne at Onondaga County Legislature meeting

Meet the 13 candidates challenging for Onondaga County Legislature

Only 6 of the 17 seats on the Onondaga County Legislature have contested races this week.

The other uncontested candidates are:

District 1 - Brian May (R, C)
District 2 - Kevin Meaker (R, C)
District 3 - Tim Burtis (R, C)
District 7 - Dan Romeo (D)
District 11 - Richard McCarron (R, C)
District 12 - David Knapp (R, C)
District 13 - Kenneth Bush, Jr. (R, C)
District 14 - Cody Kelly (R, C)
District 15 - Maurice Brown (D, WFP)
District 16 - Charles Garland (D)
District 17 - Nodesia Hernandez (D, WFP)

State Supreme Court Justice (5th district)

Elizabeth Snyder Fortino (D, WFP)
Candace L.L. Randall (D, WFP)
John W. Dillon (D, WFP)
Gerard J. Snyder (D, WFP)
James McClusky (R, C)
Lydia Young (R, C)
Gregory Amoroso (R, C)
Patrick Kilmartin (R, C)

Meet the 8 candidates running for NY State Supreme Court in CNY

The 5th Judicial District spans Onondaga, Oswego, Oneida, Herkimer, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

There are also a number of town and village races in Onondaga County. See who is running for those seats here.

What is the term limit proposal on the ballot in Onondaga County?

On the back of your ballot you’ll find a pair of propositions. The first is a statewide proposal seeking approval for the expansion of the Olympic sports complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, near Lake Placid.

The second is a local proposition that would extend the terms of Onondaga County legislators from two years to four, and limit legislators to three terms.

What should I know about the races?

Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard are covering a number of the races in CNY. Below are links to some of the coverage so far.

In the meantime, if you’re looking to brush up on interesting storylines in the election, here are seven things our newsroom will have an eye on during the election.

Syracuse mayor:

What else should I know on Election Night?

Below are links to some other information on early voting turnout and general election issues.