The general election is fast approaching. Early voting begins October 26, and Election Day polls open November 5.

Every ballot in Ulster County will include propositions. These will be printed on the back of your ballot. You must turn the ballot over and vote both sides of your ballot.

Three propositions will be countywide. The first is a proposed amendment to the New York State Constitution that “would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”

The two other propositions are proposed changes to the Ulster County Charter. One would allow the legislature to confirm certain county department director posts, establish residency requirements for the county comptroller, require legislative approval of the comptroller’s order of succession, make the county clerk able to appoint the county historian, and add a Department of Environment into the charter.

The other proposed change to the Ulster County Charter would require public advertisement of a vacancy in the county legislature outside of a regularly scheduled election, require a majority vote in municipalities within the legislative district, and would clarify if/when the vacancy was to be filled.

Kingston, Gardiner, Marlborough, New Paltz, and Olive will also have additional proposals just for those municipalities. To see a sample ballot, go to https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov.