Should “seasonals” shape North Country elections?
The Watertown Daily Times is reporting today that a growing number of seasonal — i.e. “summer” — residents are signing up to vote in Cape Vincent, along the St. Lawrence River.
“I’ve been coming here all my life but it never really crossed my mind to vote in Cape Vincent,” said Art J. Shultz, a seasonal resident who lives on the corner of Mud Bay.
The part-time residents look likely to heavily impact the Republican primary, and could then shape a heated debate over industrial wind farm development.
This tension is nothing new. By some accounts, shifting voting patterns by part-time residents has reshaped politics across the region, including the hotly-contested 20th congressional district that stretches from the Hudson Valley to Saranac Lake.
And it’s not just big-ticket decisions like wind farms that could be affected.
Often, these days, seasonal residents pay the lion’s share of local taxes, but they wield a tiny chunk of the voting power. If that changed substantially, it could affect spending priorities on everything from schools to new capital projects.
In theory, this kind of voting could have a huge impact, especially in parts of the North Country like Hamilton County, where the “local” population is dwarfed in summer by a huge influx of part-timers, many with generational ties to the area.
But there are plenty of communities — from Keene Valley to Westport to Cape Vincent — where a committed group of seasonal residents could really throw their weight around.
So what do you think? Is this a good thing, a case of taxpayers finally getting some representation? Or could growing clout by “outsiders” skew the planning and priorities of struggling small towns?
Tags: politics
people should be able to vote only once of course, but wherever they claim their voting residence – especially if they own property there.
It’s an interesting debate but as long as electoral law provides for it, it’s going to happen. I had the same choice when I went to school at Clarkson, though I registered in Warren County because I felt more invested there.
It’s worth remembering that these seasonal residents are property, school and/or sales tax payers so them having an influence on policy is not quite as unfair as it might seem. But the permanent residents have to deal with the consequences of these policies 365 days a year, not just 70 or 100.
Rather than denouncing the “outsiders,” I’d be curious to know what people think the solution should be that’s fair to everyone.
You know the term. Reality can be a bitch. Rather than complain and try to make the part-timers feel alienated and unwelcome, the effort should be to make them feel welcome enough to maybe, just maybe, entice them to become full-time, year-round residents.
Better Broadband, better cell phone coverage could help entice those who could move themselves and their jobs here. Maybe talk to them and convince them that voting for the school budget even if they don’t have kids in school here is the right thing to do.
Let’s go positive and not negative.
Aren’t we all Americans? Americans first, New Yorkers second and Adirondackers third.
Pete has a great point.
Instead of isolating or alienating part time residents, why not reach out and integrate them in the community? They are a resource and a benefit not a problem. Indeed many may end up in the end becoming full time residents and this is all a good thing.
It was always my understanding that under the law you can have many residences but only one “domicile” and that legally you can only vote at your domicile. I’ll stand corrected by any lawyers here. If that be true I would think that anyone wishing to vote should be something more than a seasonal resident but should meet the legal test of domicile.
But Bob, is there a “legal test of domicile”?
It will be interesting how this all develops. In how many places can you be registered to vote? A “seasonal” might not necessarily be an “outsider”, but from a neighboring township. I would love to be able to vote in the Town of Hammond (where I own property, but do not reside) where the monies thrown around by the opposing lobbying groups has things in a cluster.
Vote Early and Often!
Brian. I think there is. When I last read on the subject there were a number of factors involved such as where do you work? Where do your kids go to school? And other factors. I also think that a special exception to the domicile rule was made for college students. The idea as I understand it is that there is one residence that the voter considers home base; to which he or she always intends to return and where his , her or their lives are centered. All to be determined on a case by case basis and that “home base” is the domicile. I admit that this is very difficult to enforce but I do think it applies. The speed limit on the Northway is 65; they can’t enforce that either.
Brian, How about this for thought. Village residents can vote in village and town elections and/or run for office in both. Town residents can only vote or run for offfice in the Township. I realize this might be off topic slightly from your post but find it interesting particullarly when people want to see parity. Pete you are so correct. Is turning the “seasonal” into a “yearrounder” a bad thing. I think not.
DonDew: Villagers pay town and village taxes. Townies only pay town taxes.
Matt, True but you have to agree the actions of both Goverments effects each other.
There has been at least one recent court case in NY that determined “seasonals” can vote in their second home district if they want to. Of course obviously they can’t vote in the district of their other residence.
If year-rounders want all the benefits of seasonals — taxes, money spent in local establishments, employment opportunities — then they’ll have to recognize that those people will have an influence politically. To put it baldly, prostituting yourself in the name of tourism means you give up something as well, you compromise yourself. You can’t have it both ways.
DonDew: True. But I guess that can be said for neighboring towns counties and states. Obviously nothings perfect but I guess it makes sense to vote where your taxes go so you have a say in how money is spent. Taxation w/ representation (except Wash. DC). On the other hand people who own businesses in a village and don’t live there pay taxes but don’t get represented.
Vote early and vote often.
Chicago Politics at it’s very best.