Under New York election law, voters can gather petition signatures to place on the ballot an option of Write In — so that each voter can write in a candidate’s name. The move is called an “opportunity to ballot.” It creates competition for a party’s designated candidate by giving voters a choice to write in someone else’s name. If the “opportunity to ballot” is used in the primary season, it forces a primary election in which a party’s voters can reject the party’s choice of nominee. For the 2013, Alex Walsh — who also has the Republican and Conservative parties’ designation — faces a primary challenge on Sept. 10 by a write-in candidate for the Independence Party nomination for Common Council District 1.

District 2 Description/Map

District 2: is northwestern Syracuse and includes the neighborhoods of Westside, Far Westside, Near Westside, Lake Front and Skunk City. District 2 Map