SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Turnout in Sullivan County, which historically has low voter turnout, dipped even lower in the 2024 election. Despite a presidential race that both parties have called consequential to the future of the country and record spending this election cycle, voter turnout in Sullivan County was lower than in 2020.

As of November 11, there were 34,680 votes cast in the 2024 election in Sullivan County versus 35,132 votes in 2020.

According to Communityprofilesofthemidhudson.org, of the seven counties in the mid-Hudson and their eligible voters, Sullivan and Orange counties had the lowest turnout in 2020, 59 percent and 61 percent respectively, and in 2022, 40 percent and 41 percent respectively.

Anne Hart, the chair of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee, spoke to the River Reporter about the low turnout. “It’s very interesting,” she said. “I can’t say I know why. It’s something to look at; it’s not significantly lower than in 2020, but it’s lower.”

Greg Goldstein, the chair of the Sullivan County Republican Committee said, “I don’t know what you got to do to get people out to vote.”

Why?

“People are disaffected with politics and political parties,” Hart said. “People are not satisfied with the political process.” 

“Sullivan County turnout has been an outlier for a while,” she added. She thinks it’s because people in politics aren’t reaching out to voters. “Voters aren’t engaged in a way to think a candidate can do something for them.” 

There may be a correlation between wealth and disaffection, Hart continued, as Sullivan County also has a historically lower-income population. 

Goldstein says he doesn’t know what will stir people to vote. He said, “The money spent was tremendous,” even on a local level. “I saw a lot of signs around, more than usual, and I thought it would be a good turnout.”

“Enrollment has changed and that’s something to look at,” Hart said. 

“I went door-to-door, but knocking on a door once a year isn’t enough,” she added. “There needs to be more communication with voters.”

The results

“Nationally, a message was sent” with the results, Goldstein said. He pointed out that New York has leaned more red than in years past.

“As an individual you do what you can do,” Hart said. “This was a federally driven campaign; I had a very small role in calling any shots... My role is to get as many people out to help to get volunteers to volunteer and help volunteers to talk and communicate the message from candidates.”  

Hart thinks Sullivan’s Democratic committee had more volunteers in 2024 then in 2020 and 2022.

“Together as a team we are getting better at it. I did what I could and there is always room for improvement,” she said.

Goldstein said, “I don’t know why Sullivan County has lower turnout than other areas. I have not analyzed it in a while,” but “people need to get involved. They need to get involved.”