NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on Election Day in New York (all times local):
12:15 a.m.
Republican Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello has won a state Senate seat in western New York in a special election.
Borrello will fill the District 57 seat left vacant by Republican Cathy Young. She resigned for a job at Cornell University.
The 52-year-old Borrello on Tuesday beat recent college graduate and 22-year-old Democrat Austin Morgan. Borrello’s victory is a boost to Republicans, who have lost control of the state Senate.
Young easily won reelection but departed in March after losing political power amid party infighting.
Borrello is a retired businessman who has served as county executive since 2018 and lives in Sunset Bay in the town of Hanover.
He ran on promises to support the Second Amendment, protect Lake Erie from wind turbines and address the opioid crisis.
Young had held the office since 2005 and previously served in the Assembly from 1999 to 2005.
___
11:10 p.m.
New York City residents have voted to adopt a ranked voting system for primaries and special elections.
The measure that passed Tuesday will take effect in 2021 and covers the offices of mayor, public advocate, city comptroller, borough president and city council.
Under the new system, voters will rank their choices from 1 to 5. Second- and third-place votes will help determine the result if no candidate wins at least 50% of first-place votes.
Supporters of ranked voting say it forces candidates to broaden their appeal beyond their own base so they’ll be chosen second by voters who like another candidate best.
Opponents say the system is confusing and can hurt the chances of minority candidates.
Cities including San Francisco and Minneapolis already use ranked voting.
___
11 p.m.
Jumaane Williams has been reelected New York City public advocate.
The 43-year-old Democrat defeated Republican Joseph Borelli and Libertarian Devin Balkind for the seat.
Williams beat 18 other candidates in a Feb. 26 special election that was held after Letitia James was elected New York attorney general.
Williams is a former New York City Council member known for his activism on behalf of causes including immigrant rights and affordable housing.
The public advocate job was created in 1993 and is intended as a sort of city ombudsman. The position carries vaguely defined duties but is seen as a steppingstone to higher office.
The public advocate serves as mayor if the mayor dies or becomes incapacitated.
___
10:50 p.m.
Democrat Melinda Katz has been elected as the next district attorney of Queens.
The Queens Borough president will take over a post left vacant by the death of longtime prosecutor Richard Brown.
Katz defeated Joseph Murray in Tuesday’s election. He is a Democrat running on the Republican ballot line.
The victory was anticlimactic after her seesaw win over public defender Tiffany Cabán in the Democratic primary.
Cabán led by more than 1,000 votes the night of the June 25 primary, but Katz emerged victorious by a thin margin after absentee ballots were counted.
Katz is 54. She is a veteran politician who served in the state Assembly from 1994 to 1999 and on the New York City Council from 2002 to 2009.
Brown held the office from 1991 until his death in May.
___
9 p.m.
Polls have closed in New York’s first election with early voting.
Polls closed at 9 p.m. Tuesday as people across the state cast ballots in county and municipal races.
With no federal or statewide contests on the ballot, turnout was expected to be low.
But this year’s contests served as a rehearsal for next year’s blockbuster presidential race.
It marked the first time New York allowed all registered voters to cast ballots before Election Day. Officials said roughly a quarter million ballots were cast in the state between Oct. 26 and Sunday.
The most interesting contest took place in New York City, where a referendum was held to decide whether to adopt ranked choice voting in future elections.
___
6:30 a.m.
New York’s first election with early voting is reaching its conclusion as people across the state cast ballots in county and municipal races.
With no federal or statewide contests on the ballot Tuesday, turnout is expected to be low.
But this year’s contests are serving as a rehearsal for next year’s blockbuster presidential race.
It marks the first time New York allowed all registered voters to cast ballots before Election Day. Officials said roughly a quarter million ballots were cast in the state between Oct. 26 and Sunday.
Polls are open Tuesday until 9 p.m.
The most interesting contest is taking place in New York City, where a referendum is being held to decide whether to adopt ranked choice voting in future elections.
___
1:20 a.m.
New York’s first election with early voting is reaching its conclusion, as people across the state cast ballots in county and municipal races.
With no federal or statewide contests on the ballot Tuesday, turnout is expected to be low.
But this year’s contests are serving as a rehearsal for next year’s blockbuster presidential race.
It marks the first time New York allowed all registered voters to cast ballots before Election Day. Officials said roughly a quarter million ballots were cast in the state between Oct. 26 and Nov. 3.
Polls were set to be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The most interesting contest is taking place in New York City, where a referendum is being held to decide whether to adopt ranked-choice voting in future elections.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.