Abbott Brant

Poughkeepsie Journal

Polls across Dutchess and Ulster counties have officially opened, and Democrat and Republican voters are heading out today to cast ballots in the most competitive presidential primary elections New York has seen in at least a decade.

One of those voters is Republican voter Maureen Gillen.

The 69-year-old Village of Pawling resident cast her vote at Pawling Town Hall for "the only man worth voting for," she said. "Donald Trump."

Gillen said Trump is "the only man Putin would speak English to," but doesn't think he will win the presidency.

"They'll stop him at the convention," she said.

Registered Republicans will choose between billionaire businessman Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Registered Democrats will choose between Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m.

“We are prepared for 100 percent turnout,” said Erik J. Haight, Republican commissioner of the Dutchess County Board of Elections. “Our expectation is that everyone who is eligible to vote should vote.”

In Dutchess County, that would be 58,008 Democrat voters and 50,828 Republican voters. In New York, only those registered as a voter in one of these two parties can participate in the primary election.

Primary polling sites in Dutchess, Ulster counties

First-time voters may be asked for identification, according to Dan Miller, Democratic deputy commissioner of Dutchess County Board of Elections. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license, social security card or utility bill.

Polls are expected to be busiest after 5 p.m., Miller said. Primary election results will become available at PoughkeepsieJournal.com after 9 p.m.

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: Trump promises winning for Dutchess, America

This year, several candidates also have local connections. Trump owns Trump National Golf Club, Hudson Valley and has family who own land in the region. He also held a rally in the City of Poughkeepsie on Sunday.

READ MORE:Trump promises winning for Dutchess, America

Sanders was the first presidential candidate in years to visit the region on the primary campaign trail, stopping at Marist College for a rally April 12. Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea Clinton, made a stop in Poughkeepsie last weekend to campaign for her mother. Chelsea Clinton married her husband Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts, an estate on River Road in Rhinebeck, in July of 2010.

READ MORE:Bernie Sanders storms Poughkeepsie

READ MORE:Chelsea Clinton highlights Hillary's experience ahead of NY primary

Former Republican candidate Ben Carson, who dropped out of the race last month, will also appear on the ballot. As Miller explained, Carson’s campaign did not file with the state to remove his name from the ballot in March, so his name has been certified to be listed on the ballot.

As Trump runs, Dutchess has another connection to a presidential race

Trump leads in New York with 54 percent of the vote from likely Republican primary voters, according to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll. Clinton leads Sanders in primary polls by 17 points with 57 percent of the state’s likely Democratic primary voters compared to Sanders’ 40 percent, according to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll.

“Donald Trump is well-positioned to carry New York handily and is likely to acquire a sizeable number of New York’s delegates, as a result,” said Lee Miringoff, director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

VIDEOS, PHOTOS: Bernie Sanders storms Poughkeepsie

Democratic voters will also be given the option to vote for delegates to represent their congressional district at the Democratic National Convention in July. Delegates will be listed along the same line of the presidential candidate they support. Voters in Congressional District 18 will be able to choose any six Democratic delegates on the ballot, while voters in District 19 can choose any five delegates.

In New York, 291 Democratic delegates are up for grabs, with 163 of those delegates chosen at the congressional district level. Then there are 84 Democratic delegates are distributed proportionally based on the statewide primary results. Finally, there are 44 “superdelegates” who are free to support whomever they want, regardless of what happens in the primary election.

On the Republican side, candidates are vying for 95 delegates. The number of delegates each gets is dependent upon the outcome of the primary election. The GOP’s state committee members in each congressional district decide who the delegates will be in May.

Campaigns look to millennials, women on Primary Day and beyond

Once the Republican primary election results are in, congressional districts have three delegates they can give to one or more candidate. If a candidate wins 50 percent of the vote in a district, they gets all three. If the winning candidate doesn’t hit 50 percent, he will get two delegates and the second-place finisher will get one, given they received at least 20 percent of the vote.

The remaining 14 GOP delegates go to the statewide winner, or the candidate that wins at least 50 percent of votes. If no candidate wins the majority of votes, the delegates are distributed proportionally to all candidates who get at least 20 percent of the vote.

Abbott Brant: abrant@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @AbbottBrantPoJo

Live coverage

For live coverage of the New York primary Tuesday follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at #pjelex and for articles, photos, videos and results after polls close go to PoughkeepsieJournal.com

Inside

Polling sites for Dutchess and Ulster counties, 6A

Sanders, Trump rallies draw strong reader reaction, 10A

CAMPAIGN CENTRAL: For extensive campaign news, videos and more, visit us online at poughkeepsiejournal.com/section/elections-2016