Village elections move to March 18 due to St. Patrick’s Day

GREENE COUNTY―Every year, residents of villages across New York head to the polls on the third Tuesday of March. Unless it falls on St. Patrick’s Day.

This year is one of those years when New York State Election Law mandates that village voting be held on Wednesday, March 18.

Previously, villages had the option of moving their election date if it fell on St. Patrick’s Day. But in 1998, then-Assemblyman Joseph Crowley of Queens introduced a bill to make it mandatory.

St. Patrick's Day is not a legal holiday in the United States and the reason for the bill, which ultimately became law, was simply to honor Irish heritage.

Since then, St. Patrick’s Day has only fallen on the third Tuesday of March a handful of times: 2009, 2015, and most recently in 2020. But the 2020 village election was moved to September due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Across Greene County, polls will be open on Wednesday, March 18 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the villages of Athens, Catskill, Coxsackie, Hunter and Tannersville.

In Athens, there are two seats open on the board of trustees. Incumbents Joey J. Dillberg and Gail A. Lasher are both running on the Democratic line for two-year terms.

In Catskill, one three-year seat is up on the board of trustees. Incumbent Joseph D. Kozloski is running on the Democratic and People’s Choice lines against previous board member Jamie L. Hyer Mitchell on the Republican and Village Visions lines.

In Coxsackie, two seats are open on the board of trustees. Incumbents Katlyn E. Irwin and Deidre M. Meier are both running on the Democratic line for two-year terms.

In Hunter, Mayor Alan W. Higgins is unopposed on the Republican line for a new three-year term.

In Tannersville, there are two seats open on the board of trustees. Incumbents George J. Kelly and Kody K. Leach are both running on the Republican line for two-year terms.