A sign that reads “vote here” points to the polls at Onondaga Community College. © 2026 Annie Deitel.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Voters outside Mulroy Hall at Onondaga Community College said Tuesday that Election Day still draws them to the polls, even though midterm elections typically bring out fewer people than presidential years.
“We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Linda Hammerly, 79, of Syracuse.
Pew Research Center found that turnout in House elections generally falls in midterm years compared with presidential years.
Hammerly said she has voted in every election since college, but this one stood out. When asked what made it exceptional, she said she “was not liking the person in power.”
Sharon Osterdale, 61, of Syracuse, said she also waited until Election Day.”With everything happening lately in politics, I wanted to wait till the last minute in case anything random came up,” Osterdale said.
Casting her ballot felt good, Osterdale said. She called voting a right, but “also a privilege.”
Hammerly said some people stay home because “they think it’s not going to matter.” Osterdale pointed to the “negativity” and the “craziness of it all.”
Both urged nonvoters to cast ballots.
Hammerly said skipping an election is “a major mistake.”
Osterdale made the same point. “If you don’t, you have no right to complain, speak up about it,”she said, adding that “every vote counts.”
The New York State Board of Elections website shows registered voters their designated polling place. Polls close at 9 p.m.