SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Voters without a party have typically watched primary elections from the sidelines. That will change in the race for Syracuse mayor this year.

The Reform Party will hold a semi-open primary, giving about 15,000 people in Syracuse a chance to cast ballots for mayor in Tuesday's primary as well as several judicial races.

New York has closed primaries, which means only voters who are a member of a party can participate. After a shakeup in leadership last year, the Reform Party opened its primary to all voters not enrolled in a party.

Statewide, then, candidates are waging write-in campaigns for the Reform Party nomination, hopping to earn an additional spot on the ballot.

In Syracuse, the party endorsed Ben Walsh for mayor. Republican Laura Lavine filed "opportunity to ballot" paperwork to allow for write-in votes and forcing a primary. Only Walsh's name will appear on the ballot.

Additionally, there are five Reform candidates for three City Court Judge seats: James Cecile, Derrek Thomas, Jason Zeigler, Vanessa Bogan and Frank Pelosi.

There are 15,437 unaffiliated voters in Syracuse -- about 22 percent of the total electorate. There are 16 Reform Party members.

Two other countywide races have a primary for the Reform Party ballot line.

Mary Keib Smith and Loretta Kilpatrick are seeking the nomination for Surrogate Court judge. Michelle Pirro Bailey and Laurin Haddad are running for the line for Family Court judge.

Results for the Reform primary in the Syracuse mayor's race likely won't be available for several days, due to the write-in votes. Those votes must be counted by hand by Board of Elections officials.