One of the major consequences of the maps for New York state Senate and congressional districts getting thrown out is a bifurcated primary schedule in a busy midterm election year.

Dustin Czarny, Democratic elections commissioner for Onondaga County, told Capital Tonight that despite the chaotic schedule, county boards of election have gotten more “nimble” and will be ready after the past three cycles which dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of early voting.

New Yorkers who are registered in a political party made her voice heard Wednesday in statewide primaries, their Assembly district, and in some local races. Czarny said that each primary election will cost his county nearly $200,000 each due to duplicated costs of workers, shipping of election machines and printing of ballots. Counties like his will be on the hook for the additional expenditures for the August primary when there will be primary elections for Congress and the state Senate.

Each election is staffed by trained election inspectors who are paid for their time and their training. Czarny calls these workers “heroes” and says more are needed especially in areas like in the 19th  and 23rd congressional districts which will have special elections to fill congressional vacancies created by the resignations of Antonio Delgado and Tom Reed, respectively.

Despite the primary confusion, Czarny said Onondaga County set a new record during this year’s early voting period and says that more people are returning to their polling sites rather than requesting an absentee ballot.