Elections officials say keep on petitioning, despite ruling tossing the maps

A word to all petitioning candidates from the Board of Elections: carry on as if nothing happened. A Steuben County judge’s Thursday ruling throwing out the newly drawn legislative maps threw the upcoming primaries into confusion too. Petitions to make the ballot for Congress, state Senate, Assembly and more are all due between April 4 and 7, and a spokesperson for the state Board of Elections told City & State that’s still the case. “Almost certainly a stay will be issued pending an appeal, so wait and see,” John Conklin said. “We will receive petitions next week and proceed as if the June 28th primary is moving ahead.” The Republicans who sued have suggested the primary, with new maps, be pushed back to as late as August 23. Acting Supreme Court Justice Patrick McAllister didn’t make a decision on the date, but seemed to favor keeping the same June date – and ruled that any updated petitioning requirements and timeframes are up to the Legislature and governor to decide. The state GOP is following the BOE for now, “out of an abundance of caution” – maybe because they know as well as anyone this ruling may yet be reversed on appeal.