Confusion abounds over redistricting

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's 2012, do you know who your candidates are? The political landscape has changed this year, leaving a lot of voters confused about who's on the ballot.

At the Erie County Board of Elections, they are in full the confusion control mode.

Election Commissioner Ralph Mohr said, "We received so many calls that people were getting confused as to who currently represents them and who they're going to be voting for in two weeks."

Most of the confusion comes from Amherst, where the old congressional district has been split, and the new congressional district encompasses Hamburg.

Hamburg voter Paul Giglio said, "I didn't know who was in my district and who the candidate were going to be."

Williamsville voter Frank Moran said, "For me, was, maybe where I voted last year might be a little different where it is this year now."

Giglio and Moran are among the 2,300 local Geico employees not only getting the basic voting information they need, but also meeting many of the candidates, like newcomer Mike Madigan, going up against incumbent Brian Higgins.

"We're losing the federal dollars. It's because of the large loss of population. We can't keep our kids here," Madigan said.

The 61st State Senate District, which now includes parts of Monroe County.

Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer said, "You know, just to kind of get a sense of what issues are important to them. So it's really been a learning and a listening experience."

His challenger, Justin Rooney, said, "I've been going door-to-door, banging on doors, so hopefully that's what comes through on election day."

Close to 90,000 registered voters in Erie County will be receiving a reminder mailer, telling them their polling places have changed, and where to go to cast their ballots. The modified Board of Elections website now gives voters a look at the ballot in their district.

Web architect Dan Graffam said, "A sample ballot will pop up, which is everything they'll be voting for in their district, their town, and then "My Polling Place," which is a map of where they go and the address of where they'll go to vote."

You can visit the Erie County Board of Elections' website by following this link. You can also call 858-8891 to find out more information about your district and polling place.