Both sheets belong to your ballot. County election officials urge voters to review every side before returning it.

UTICA, N.Y. Oneida County voters will encounter an important change when they cast their ballots in the 2026 general election: their ballot comes on two separate sheets known as the Oneida County two-sheet ballot. The county Board of Elections says that is intentional, and voters should review both sides of both sheets before submitting them.

The change is practical, but the consequences of overlooking it can be personal. A voter who checks only the first sheet could miss a contest they wanted to participate in on the Oneida County two-sheet ballot. The county’s message is to take a moment, check the complete ballot and make sure both sheets are returned.

Why does Oneida County have two ballot sheets?

The Board of Elections’ official sample ballot page says the general election ballot is two sheets long because of the number of contests. It explicitly tells residents that receiving two sheets is not an error.

County commissioners explained the change in WKTV’s October 19 report. The local report describes state and county races on the first sheet and town and judicial contests on the second. Voters should use their own district’s sample ballot to see exactly which offices appear on their ballot.

The county also makes a distinction that can prevent confusion: residents are not required to vote in every contest. Reviewing both sheets gives each voter a chance to decide which races to participate in, rather than skipping a race because they never saw it.

What should voters do at the polls?

Before marking a ballot, confirm that both sheets are present. Check the labels and look at both sides of each sheet. After making your selections, take a final look before submitting the sheets.

For in-person voting, election officials say both sheets should go into the voting machine. A voter who is uncertain about the procedure should ask a poll worker for instructions before submitting anything. Asking how to handle the paper is different from asking someone to make a voting choice.

There is no reason to rush because another voter is waiting. The additional sheet is part of the official process. Taking enough time to find a school, town or judicial contest is a reasonable part of casting a complete ballot.

What changes for people voting by mail?

The same two-sheet reminder applies at home. Voters should follow the instructions supplied with their ballot package and make sure both completed sheets are inside the return envelope.

A useful approach is to keep all ballot materials together until the final check. Review the first sheet, review the second, look at the reverse sides and then follow the envelope instructions. Do not assume the second sheet is merely a notice or an optional insert.

For questions about a missing sheet, a mistake or a ballot already returned, contact the Board of Elections directly. The correct next step can depend on the circumstances. Do not submit an extra ballot or send loose replacement pages without official instructions.

How can residents preview their ballot?

The county’s official page provides sample ballots by municipality and election district. A sample from another district may show different contests, so the district number matters.

Residents can confirm their election district through the New York State voter lookup tool, then return to the county page and choose the matching sample. A family member or neighbor can help someone find the correct webpage while leaving the actual voting decisions to that voter.

Looking at the sample in advance is especially useful for residents who want to research unfamiliar candidates or judicial races. It can also help someone plan for a longer ballot and identify accessibility questions before arriving at a polling place.

What happens if a voter submits only one sheet?

According to the commissioners’ explanation reported by WKTV, election officials count the completed contests on the sheet that was submitted. The missing sheet leaves the voter without recorded choices in the contests that appeared on it.

The lesson is not that everyone must select a candidate in every race. It is that a voter should have the opportunity to make that decision deliberately after seeing the entire ballot.

A short checklist before submitting

• Find and review both ballot sheets.
• Check both sides of each sheet.
• Make the selections you choose to make.
• Follow the supplied marking and return instructions.
• Submit both sheets in person or include both in the mail return envelope.
• Ask an election official about any missing materials or procedural uncertainty.

For Utica, Rome and the rest of Oneida County, the most useful reminder this election season may be the simplest: the ballot continues beyond the first sheet. Check the complete ballot before you finish.

Sources: Oneida County Board of Elections and WKTV. Information checked October 20, 2026.