Onondaga County, New York

A Twin Cities opinion piece by local election official Ken Peterson defends Minnesota's voting system amid DOJ threats to deploy election-day monitors. Peterson notes bipartisan agreement between state GOP and DFL chairs that the system, run by over 30,000 local poll workers, is secure. A federal judge recently blocked DOJ efforts to obtain state voter rolls for DHS review. Minnesota uses paper ballots, certified equipment, and the Statewide Registration System to prevent double voting. Cited fraud cases remain rare: a St. Thomas Law School study found only three noncitizen voting convictions among 13.4 million ballots cast from 2014–2024. Minnesota led the nation in 2024 voter turnout and election administration rankings.

The Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff's Benevolent Association, representing Justice Center jail deputies, announced a "no confidence" vote against Sheriff Toby Shelley days before early voting opened in his reelection race against Republican challenger RJ Lenhart. The union cited understaffing, low morale and frequent labor disputes, also opposing Shelley's plan to close the downtown jail and consolidate operations at the Jamesville facility. Shelley attributed the vote to a contentious relationship with union leadership and disputed grievances, calling many complaints gratuitous. Two other sheriff's office unions, covering patrol and Jamesville deputies, declined to issue no-confidence votes, with one voicing qualified support for Shelley.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, speaking for county executives statewide, has pressed Gov. Kathy Hochul to follow through on repealing New York's 2000-era sales tax exemption for internet data centers, calling it outdated for today's hyperscale facilities. McMahon, who heads the New York State County Executives' Association, wants the repeal included in Hochul's upcoming state budget proposal, arguing developers should negotiate incentives locally rather than claim exemptions automatically. Niagara County officials have said a major local data center claims the exemption, costing the county millions. Separately, Onondaga County has hired consultant CPL to study data centers' local impacts, with results expected by mid-2027, as officials weigh a proposed project in Lysander.

Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley, a Democrat seeking re-election, and Republican challenger RJ Lenhart Jr. clashed in a televised debate over staffing and morale, immigration enforcement, vehicle pursuits and a proposed jail consolidation. Lenhart, a former Syracuse police officer and Madison County undersheriff now working as a DA's office investigator, cited a no-confidence vote by the deputies' union and called the department's culture punitive. Shelley touted hundreds of new hires and falling sick leave at the Jamesville jail. On ICE, Shelley said he prioritizes criminals for removal without directly confirming cooperation, while Lenhart said he'd help remove violent offenders but not aid civil immigration enforcement. They also split on pursuit policy and moving downtown jail operations to Jamesville. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Republican Ed Theobald, 74, and Democratic incumbent Elaine Denton, 41, are competing for the Onondaga County Legislature's 10th district seat, covering Manlius, Fayetteville and Minoa. Denton, elected last year after unseating longtime Republican Mark Olson, is seeking a full term and has prioritized housing reform, environmental protection, and transparency, including model zoning to expand housing options. Theobald, a former Manlius town supervisor and Minoa village trustee, is focused on controlling property taxes and says he was recruited to run after Olson declined a rematch. Both candidates addressed data centers: Denton favors caution on hyperscale facilities, while Theobald wants stricter local permitting. The election is November 3, with early voting starting October 24.

Onondaga County, N.Y., voters head to the polls in November to decide control of the County Legislature for the first time under newly lengthened four-year terms, with candidates running in all 17 districts. Democrats, who won a historic 10-7 majority in 2025, are seeking a veto-proof 12-seat supermajority that would let them bypass Republican County Executive Ryan McMahon, who has vetoed several Democratic measures this year, including a term-limits bill now headed to voters. Republicans, boosted by heavy fundraising from county contractors, aim to reclaim at least a nine-seat majority. Key swing districts include the 2nd, 6th, 11th, and 14th. Both parties are investing heavily, with turnout and lingering reaction to President Trump seen as pivotal factors.

Oregon's 2026 general election falls on Nov. 3, with county elections offices having begun mailing ballots on Oct. 14. Ballots must either be postmarked by Election Day or placed in official drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3; officials are urging voters to use drop boxes or mail early to avoid issues from potential postal delays. Voters may also cast ballots in person at county elections offices, including on Election Day itself, though in-person voters must have registered by the Oct. 13 deadline, which has already passed for this cycle.

New this year, the Oregon Secretary of State's Office is offering a statewide free ballot-tracking service, BallotTrax, letting voters receive text, email, or phone updates on their ballot's status from mailing through acceptance for counting. A searchable map of drop box locations is also available to voters statewide. Postal delays and mail-ballot concerns have similarly surfaced in other states ahead of the same Nov. 3 election date, with local officials elsewhere also fielding voter questions about ballot delivery and tracking.

Police in Utica, New York, are investigating after employees discovered a deceased infant girl at the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority's recycling facility. Officials said the baby had passed through sorting machinery before workers stopped the equipment and recovered her.

At a press conference, Utica Police Captain Michael Curley, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville, Chief Mark Williams and a New York State Police representative said the investigation is in its early stages, with state police assisting because the facility processes waste from five Central New York counties. An autopsy was scheduled for October 15 through the Onondaga County Medical Examiner.

Authorities have not said whether charges would be filed against a parent who comes forward, and instead appealed for the birth mother to contact investigators to share what happened. Officials noted that New York's safe-haven law allows parents to anonymously surrender infants within 30 days of birth at any Utica firehouse, the police department, or Wynn Hospital without facing prosecution.