Sterling, New York Public Records

New York residents can register to vote online through the New York State Board of Elections website (dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application), which links to the Department of Motor Vehicles voter registration portal. Voter registration deadlines in New York are 25 days before any election for new registrations and 10 days before an election for address or party affiliation changes. Voters must provide their DMV-issued ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. New York requires party registration to vote in primary elections, and voters must be registered with a party at least 25 days before the general election in the year prior to the primary to be eligible to vote in that party's primary. The town operates under a government structure with a Town Supervisor and four Town Council members elected to staggered terms. Town elections are held in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, coinciding with county and state off-year elections. The next town elections will be held in November 2025, when voters will elect the Town Supervisor and two Town Council seats. Residents also elect a Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent, and Town Justice in these elections. There are no incorporated villages within the town, so all municipal governance occurs at the town level. Candidate petitions and local ballot measures are filed with the Cayuga County Board of Elections. Residents can find their specific polling place by using the New York State Board of Elections polling place locator at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov or by contacting the Cayuga County Board of Elections. Polling places in the area are typically located at the Sterling Volunteer Fire Hall and other community facilities depending on election district. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Election Day. Under New York election law, voter registration lists are public records available for inspection and purchase for political purposes. Campaign finance disclosure reports for candidates for state and county offices are accessible through the New York State Board of Elections campaign finance database (publicreporting.elections.ny.gov). Local candidate filings and nominating petitions are maintained by the Cayuga County Board of Elections. Election results by election district are published by the Cayuga County Board of Elections following certification, typically available on the Cayuga County website within weeks of each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Cayuga County reported approximately 42% voter turnout of registered voters, with total votes cast around 30,000 countywide. The town's voter participation rates historically align closely with county averages, typically higher in presidential years and lower in odd-year local elections. On November 3, 2026, voters in Sterling and Cayuga County will decide several important races. New York's gubernatorial election will be held, as Governor Kathy Hochul's current term expires in 2026, along with all statewide offices including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller. All 63 New York State Senate seats will be on the ballot, including the seat representing the town (currently Senate District 48). All 150 New York State Assembly seats will also be contested. At the Cayuga County level, Cayuga County legislative seats may be up for election depending on district cycle, along with potential county-wide positions such as County Clerk, Sheriff, and District Attorney depending on term schedules. Town offices are elected in odd years, so no local positions will appear on the 2026 ballot. No U.S. Senate seat from New York is scheduled for election in 2026 (Senator Schumer's seat is up in 2028, Senator Gillibrand's in 2024). New York allows absentee voting for voters who will be absent from the county on Election Day, unable to appear due to illness or disability, or have duties related to primary care of individuals who are ill or disabled. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Cayuga County Board of Elections website or by downloading the form and mailing it to the Board of Elections office. The application deadline is seven days before the election if requesting mail delivery, or the day before the election for in-person pickup. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Board of Elections within seven days of the election to be counted, or delivered in person to the Board of Elections by 9:00 PM on Election Day.