Chenango County Democratic Commissioner of Elections Carol Franklin and Republican Commissioner of Elections Mary Lou Monahan were the featured speakers at the Chenango Links sponsored “Election Night at the Moon” on Monday. (Grady Thompson photo)

NORWICH – Chenango County's Republican and Democratic Commissioners of Elections discussed their procedures and changes in election law while answering questions from the public at "Election Night at the Moon" on Monday.

Sponsored by Chenango Links, the event featured Chenango County Republican Commissioner of Elections Mary Lou Monahan and Democratic Commissioner of Elections Carol Franklin at the Bohemian Moon in Norwich explaining the recent changes in election laws in New York State.

Discussing the major changes, Franklin said New York State has combined its primaries to all take place in June, which she said is a cost-saving measure in New York State. Consequently, it has also resulted in a number of other changes pertaining to when candidates can circulate and file their petitions.

Monahan said, "For example it used to be that the filing of petitions would be in July, now it's the first week of April. So that's a drastic change and our weather here is not terribly conducive to that kind of going door to door, but that's what it has to be.

"Also, the caucus days have changed. Everything has been shifted up to accomodate this date in the primary, all of those dates have been hinged on that."