Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New Yorkers will have their turn to nominate their candidate for president with the April 2 presidential primary. However, it's possible the primary races could be decided by the time that happens.
Erie County Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr says turnout for the presidential primary will depend on one thing:
"It depends on whether there is a contest for that party," said Mohr in an interview with WBEN. "It certainly could be very high if there is a contested primary election and the election is up for grabs, or it can be very low, if it is already determined."
While there will be presidential primaries on the Republican and Democratic tickets in New York, Mohr says by the time the primary comes, Donald Trump and Joe Biden may be the two presumptive candidates for their respective parties.
Mohr feels low turnout could lead to more of a burden for the Board of Elections.
"Since the advent of early voting and the mail-in registration voting, it's going to be an extra burden on the Board of Elections to manage the voting booths for the number of days that are required for early voting, and then also to handle quality absentee mail and requests that we have," Mohr explained.
Mohr adds it will be very difficult, even with all those avenues to vote, to get people to cast their ballots when their ballot determination may not make a difference.
Mohr has spent 30 years as elections commissioner, and has seen the New York presidential primary move throughout the calendar, including Super Tuesday.