Several minor parties to rise in ballot position

ALBANY — New Yorkers did not turn out in droves for the 2010 elections, but still managed to give a boost to independent parties that could affect the outcome of future elections.
Vote tallies certified this week by the state Board of Elections showed voter turnout on Election Day was 44.5 percent — the fourth-lowest since 1932. All told, about 4.7 million voters cast ballots.
With the vote total made official this week, two parties — the Working Families and Conservative parties — will move up one spot on the ballot.

The Green Party achieved automatic ballot status for the first time since 1998, which allows the party to avoid the costly and time-consuming petitioning process.
The ballot-line musical chairs will have an impact on the outcome of elections in the next four years, said Steve Greenberg, a Siena College pollster.
“It’s going to change the electoral dynamic over the course of the next four years,” Greenberg said. “Looking at legislative offices, local offices, congressional races, this does affect the electoral landscape because these ballot positions are in effect for the next four years.”
Despite the low participation, turnout was higher than the previous non-presidential election years in the past decade, according to the board’s official count. Voter turnout was lowest in 2006, when 38 percent of the electorate came out to vote. Eliot Spitzer was elected governor that year.
Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long said the low turnout this year was likely due to the gubernatorial candidates of the major parties.

Long pointed to the wide lead in voter polls that successful Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo had before Election Day that made it appear inevitable he would win.
But Long also blamed Republican standard-bearer and Tea Party-favorite Carl Paladino, whose controversies left some voters feeling uninspired. The Conservative Party also backed Paladino after initially backing Rick Lazio.
The Green Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Syracuse-based activist Howie Hawkins, hit the 50,000-vote threshold in order to give the party automatic ballot status for the next cycle. He received 59,928 votes.
The Conservative Party, meanwhile, will move up to Row C and the Working Families Party is being bumped up to Row D on the ballot based on the vote totals of the top of their tickets, Paladino and Cuomo respectively.
The Independence Party will move down two spots to Row E.

Vote totals

Here is a look at the vote totals for the major statewide party candidates. The tallies were made official this week by the state Board of Elections.
Governor/Lt. Governor
Democratic, Working Families, Independence
Andrew Cuomo/Robert Duffy: 2,911,616 (61%)
Republican, Conservative, Taxpayers
Carl Paladino/Greg Edwards: 1,548,101 (33%)
Comptroller
Democratic, Working Families
Thomas DiNapoli: 2,272,722 (48%)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
Harry Wilson: 2,070,247 (44%)
Attorney General
Democratic, Working Families, Independence
Eric Schneiderman: 2,479,464 (52%)
Republican, Conservative
Dan Donovan: 1,909,284 (40%)
U.S. Senate
Democratic, Working Families, Independence
Charles Schumer: 3,047,775 (64%)
Republican, Conservative
Jay Townsend: 1,480,337 (31%)
U.S. Senate
Democratic, Working Families, Independence
Kirsten Gillibrand: 2,837,589 (60%)
Republican, Conservative, Taxpayers
Joseph DioGuardi: 1,582,603 (33%)
Source: State Board of Elections