BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State's Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, April 2 gave people their first chance to have some say in the race between Democratic incumbent Joe Biden and Republican candidate Donald Trump.
But since both candidates clinched the delegate count for their nominations weeks ago does it really matter? And while some feel this exercise in democracy is important, others may question if it is really worth it?
Obviously, it was very quiet at polling places Tuesday in Erie County but some folks did make sure to vote..
Lisa Reed of Buffalo told us "It's our right to vote. You know our ancestors fought so hard for us to vote.". And Joseph Howard of Buffalo agreed "If I don't put my vote in he's not counted. It's not counted. I want my voice to be counted. No matter what happens in this world I want it to be known that I spoke up for myself anyway."
And it is important for nearly 16,000 in Erie County who voted so far on Tuesday. That includes early voting last week and on weekends before Easter as well as some 4,000 absentee ballots.
But realistically it is only about three percent of eligible voters and the early locked-up presidential nominations with New York state's later primary may keep most from a polling place until November for the presidential race.
It is a costly process for taxpayers according to Erie County Election Commissioner Ralph Mohr. "We estimate that this primary is going to cost $ 850,000 for just Erie County alone - then when you multiply that across all the counties in the state?"
So it's easily millions of dollars for New York state as a whole for what seems to some to be a meaningless exercise of the public will at this point even again as it is the democratic process.
Three other states - Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin - also held presidential primaries on Tuesday. Some of them did have actual ballot questions for voters
It is interesting that lawmakers and the Governor of President Biden's home state of Delaware actually canceled their primary election as the outcome was pre-determined. Their estimated savings were put at $1.5 Million according to the Associated Press.
Could that ever happen with taxpayer savings here in New York State where state lawmakers would have to act
Ralph. Mohr feels maybe.
"Now it really is a meaningless effort except to just show the Presidential preference of voters in New York state. There should be a mechanism that the state legislature puts together which allows us not to run the full-blown primary with the costs associated with it."
GOP Political Consultant Carl Calabrese noted, "Obviously the legislature would have to cancel it but the legislature is in session now and you would think if there was a will there would be a way to do it.. But remember this is New York state...this is a state that has elevated wasteful public spending to an art form."
A complicating factor remains in the form of those absentee ballots that have to be mailed out 45 days before an election. And again technically there was still a contest before Nikki Haley pulled out of the GOP presidential race on March 6.