NARROWSBURG, NY — The River Reporter conducted exit interviews on Election Day at the polls in Tusten and Highland. The biggest takeaway? Ballot measures are confusing for voters. 

Sullivan County voters are not alone in their confusion. Ballot measures have been called out for their confusing phrasing, dearth of party context and lack of candidate accountability. 

New York State had two measures on the ballot: one was to change the debt limit for small-city school districts and the other was to extend a debt limit exemption for sewage facilities. Most voters voted “yes” to both measures. 

Smaller districts have argued that the debt limit is unfair and inhibits small school districts from tackling larger projects to improve schools. All schools, regardless of size, will be treated equally with regard to limits on debt.

Voters were also asked whether to allow cities and towns to go beyond their debt limits to build new sewage facilities. They actually currently have this power but the measure will extend it for 10 more years.

A voter concerned about incurring debt and its potential effect on taxes might not like these proposals. But the implications of what the measures are not clear to many.

“There were two proposals on the back I had never seen,” said one woman, who identified herself as older than 80. “I wanted a letter or postcard in the mail to explain specifically the two questions and I didn’t get anything. I’m going in to vote and it’s very loud. People are talking and I’m trying to concentrate. What do they want me to do for the two questions?”

Lawsuits over the wording of ballot measures are common. According to Ballotpedia, 2022 saw seven lawsuits regarding ballot language. 

Joe Barnes, who ran on the Democratic ticket for highway supervisor in Highland, and who is the winner in unofficial results, and his wife said they had trouble figuring out what the measures were asking.

Ballotpedia, using readability tests to determine the level of education needed to understand a ballot measure, found that the average question in 2017 would require a graduate-level education to understand. 

It seems clarity has not improved since then. “You need to be a lawyer to understand,” said one voter in Tusten.

The Center for Civic Design, which aims to solve voter-intent problems with design, recommends including information about what will change if a measure passes, and who endorses it or is opposed to the change.