Chairman: Early primary election leaves candidates, staffers scrambling

It’s hectic times at the Westchester County Board of Elections where staffers are hard at work on a primary election three months earlier than normal.
Democratic County Commissioner Reggie LaFayette says with little notice, state lawmakers changed the primary election day this year, moving it up from September to June. That left everyone including the candidates, scrambling – forced to begin the petition process in March. That process ended on Thursday.
It will be up to the election commissioners who finalize the ballots and handle the objections that candidates may raise.
LaFayette says he can't predict how the early primary will impact turnout, but says the longer general election season will be harder on candidate who don’t have the luxury of a large campaigning war chest.
Voters have until May 31 to register to vote in the primary. The primary election is June 25.