Latest: Stefanik, Tonko romp; Delgado in close race

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Watch results come in here New York election results: State and Capital Region races and track all Capital Region election news here: Times Union full election page.

12:07 a.m.: Stefanik, Tonko rout

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, has declared victory in her contest against Democrat Tedra Cobb, taking 63 percent of the vote to Cobb's 35 percent with 87 percent of election district's reporting. In the 20th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Paul Tonko sailed to victory too, taking 55 percent of the vote to Republican challenger Liz Joy's 42 percent. In that district, all but two election districts had reported results.

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11:50 p.m.: Delgado ahead with all election districts reporting

With all election district's reporting, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado had 48 percent of the vote to 45 percent for Republican challenger Kyle Van De Water. The candidates were separated by 7,494 votes with absentee ballots still to be counted.

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11:44 p.m.: Steck, Fahy cruise to reelection

Assemblyman Phillip Steck received 56 percent of the vote to challenger Dave Feiden's 40 percent to easily win another 2-year term. Patricia Fahy was easily winning another term in the Assembly. Fahy got 63 percent of the vote to challenger Robert Porter's 32 percent.

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11:41 p.m.: Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara on way to victory

The Democratic incumbent had 55 percent of the vote to Republican Paul DeLorenzo's 42 percent with all election districts reporting.

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11:29 p.m.: Delgado's lead is evaporating

U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado and Republican challenger Kyle Van De Water are in a nail-biter of a race. With 92 percent of election districts reporting, Delgado has 48 percent of the vote to Van De Water's 45 percent.

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11:25 p.m. Assemblyman Jake Ashby builds big lead

With all election districts reporting, the Republican is on his way to a second term in the Assembly, leading Democrat Brittany Vogel 57 percent to 39 percent.

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11:17 p.m. Tonko, Stefanik build big leads

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat, has a commanding lead in his reelection bid, leading Republican challenger Liz Joy 56 percent to 41 percent with 90 percent of election districts reporting. In the 21st Congressional District, incumbent Republican Elise Stefanik has 63 percent of the vote to Democratic challenger Tedra Cobbs' 35 percent with 78 percent of election districts reporting.

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11:08 p.m. Gap between Delgado and Van De Water narrows

With roughly 83 percent of the election district's counted in the 19th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado is leading challenger Kyle Van De Water 49 percent to 44 percent. As the votes have come in, Delgado's lead has shrunk from the initial 55 percent lead he enjoyed.

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10:51 p.m. Sen. James Tedisco holds comfortable lead

Tedisco was on his way to another term in the Senate. The Republican leads Democratic challenger Thearse McCalmon 63 percent to 33 percent.

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10:47 p.m. Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner leads in 113th Assembly District

Rougly 45 percent of the vote has been counted and Woerner, a Democrat, has 53 percent to 44 percent for Republican challenger David Catalfamo.

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10:30 p.m. Democratic challenger holds lead in 107th Assembly District

With 30 percent of the vote in, Democrat Brittany Vogel leads Republican Assemblyman Jake Ashby 55.7 percent to 40.92 percent.

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10:25 p.m.: Stefanik's lead growing

With 37.8 percent of the vote in, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik leads Democratic challenger Tedra Cobb by 61.8 percent to 36.68 percent.

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10:18 p.m.: Delgado building lead

With roughly 34 percent of the vote counted in the 19th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado has 54.55 percent of the vote to Republican challenger Kyle Van De Water's 38.8 percent of the vote.

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10:01 p.m.: Tonko in lead as votes start to come in

With 39 percent of 632 election district's reporting, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat, leads Republican challenger Liz Joy 70.9 percent to 26.8 percent.

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9:59 p.m.: Stefanik takes early lead.

With 44 of 531 election districts reported, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, has 56 percent of the vote and challenger, Tedra Cobb, a Democrat has 42 percent of the vote.

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9:53 p.m.: Hinchey with early lead in 46th Senate District race

In the 46th state Senate District, with 18 percent of the vote counted, Democrat Michelle Hinchey has 67.9 percent of the vote to 29.37 percent for Republican Richard Amedure.

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9:31 p.m.: U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado leads in early counting

With 10 percent of the election districts reporting, Delgado has 70 percent of the vote to the 25 percent held by Republican challenger Kyle Van De Water.

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9:06 p.m.: AP projects Biden will win in New York

The Associated Press projects former Vice President Joseph Biden will defeat President Donald J. Trump in New York.

The result was expected in a state where voters have backed the Democrats' presidential candidate for a generation.

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9 p.m.: Polls close in New York

Results will soon begin to come in for key Capital Region races including three local campaigns for Congress and nine races in the state Senate and  Assembly.

In the 19th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Congressman Antonio Delgado faces Republican challenger Kyle Van De Water in a race that also includes Libertarian candidate Victoria Alexander and Green Party candidate Steven Greenfield. Delgado won the seat in 2018. The district stretches from Rensselaer County south into the mid-Hudson and the Catskills.

In the 20th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Congressman Paul Tonko faces Republican challenger Liz Joy. Tonko, a former state Assemblyman, was elected to Congress in 2008. Joy is a political newcomer. The district includes all of Albany and Schenectady counties as well as portions of Montgomery, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties.

In the 21st Congressional District, Republican incumbent Elise Stefanik faces Democratic challenger Tedra Cobb in a rematch of the 2018 race. Stefanik was first elected to Congress in 2014. The district stretches from northern Saratoga County into the Adirondack Park.

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5:45 p.m.: Voting goes smoothly in Saratoga Springs

Voters appeared to have no trouble casting ballots at Saratoga Springs' 18 polling locations. At St. Clement’s Parish Center on Lake Avenue, poll workers said the flow of voters was steady but not overwhelming.

Voters who were willing to talk about their vote on the city’s charter referendum were split, with an equal amount voting "yes" to change to a government comprised of a mayor and city council while others said they voted "no" to keep the current commissioner form of government.

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5:18 p.m.: College students have fewer voting issues than normal, research group says

The New York Public Interest Research Group says that based on a "helpline" for college students set up by the government-reform group, there appear to be fewer voting issues than in a typical election.

NYPRIG received calls indicating some confusion from students about where to vote, especially those displaced from their campus addresses due to COVID-19.

“The long lines we had during early voting and the increased use of absentee ballots resulted in good news for today’s voters. It meant quicker lines and fewer problems at poll sites,” said Neal Rosenstein, NYPIRG’s government reform coordinator.  “We’ve been doing this helpline for more than 30 years and Election Day has never seemed to be smoother.  Hats off to New York’s voters who acted early and to poll workers across the state."

While students reported early morning lines and possible electioneering issues, voting machines were working and no voter harassment was reported to the helpline, NYPRIG said.

NYPIRG also repeated its call for long-term reforms to the way elections are administered in New York.

“Every election day, voters face too many problems trying to vote.  Our outdated local Boards of Elections sent out misprinted ballots, caused long lines and even prevented college students from having an on-campus site in Dutchess County,” said Rosenstein.  “It’s time for the governor and Albany to propose replacements for New York state’s voting system."

NYPRIG gets a substantial part of its funding from student-activity fees at certain New York colleges.

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4:23 p.m.: Stefanik 'victory party' draws Warren County's attention 

On Friday, the campaign of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik sent out a media advisory stating it was holding an "Election Night Victory Party" at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. The announcement from the Republican's campaign caused some confusion, which is now apparently being cleared up.

Given concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the idea that any sort substantially-sized "party" would be happening drew the attention of the Warren County administrator's office. For one, there's a cap of 50 people on social gatherings in New York, and with the media invited to attend, the event might hit that limit rather quickly.

On Oct. 16, Warren County had been advised that a Stefanik "rally" would be held on election night, not a "party."

Over the weekend, the county administrator's office brought the matter to the attention of the Stefanik campaign, which clarified that the event is  a rally, not a party.

County Administrator Ryan Moore also contacted the Glens Falls mayor’s office and the city's fire chief "to ensure that precautions were taken" said Don Lehman, a spokesman for Warren County. "As recently as this afternoon, the fire chief, James Schrammel, met with The Queensbury Hotel’s staff to go over what they should and shouldn’t do to ensure that there were no violations of COVID-related guidelines."

"During this campaign, Congresswoman Stefanik’s campaign staff have periodically reached out to advise us of political rallies and to seek guidance for the safety protocols they should have in place for these events," Lehman said. "To date, the congresswoman’s campaign staff have done a good job with mask use, social distancing and temperature checks at their rallies."

In the original press advisory sent out last Friday calling the event a "party," Stefanik's campaign did note it was taking precautions.

"Masks will be required and will be provided to anyone who does not have one, temperature checks will be administered at the entrance, and contact information will be collected for contact tracing," the Stefanik announcement last week stated. "The Election Night party will be held outdoors at the Queensbury Hotel, under a large tent with heaters. Media will have access to an indoor space near the tent as well."

The campaign of Stefanik's opponent, Democrat Tedra Cobb, issued a statement saying they "will be hosting a safe and socially distant election night watch party with staff and family. There will be a separate room for press and opportunities with the candidate as results come in." The event is scheduled to take place at a Marriott hotel. No word on whether St. Lawrence County officials interacted with the campaign.

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1:18 p.m.: Some voters asked to show ID in Rensselaer County

Assemblywoman Pat Fahy's communications director tweeted Tuesday that when he voted in Schodack, a poll worker was asking voters to have their licenses ready. An ID is not required to vote in New York.

When a Times Union reporter visited that location, no voters coming out of the poll said they were asked to show ID. But when the reporter visited the Castleton Volunteer Ambulance polling site, two voters said they were asked for their driver's licenses (and noted that it didn't bother them). Poll worker Paula Sancomb said they are asking for licenses so a person's voting information can be called up more quickly on the Ipad poll workers are using — but she noted it's not a requirement for people to vote.

The New York Public Interest Research Group has noted in the past that while an ID is not required to vote in New York, it might be helpful to provide one for those registered to vote for the first time in a certain location.

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10:15 a.m.: Westchester County town set the bar for early voting

The Weschester County town of Greenburgh, which straddles Route 287 along the eastern side of the Hudson River, had food trucks, flu shots and separate (faster) lines for elderly and disabled voters during early voting. The town also offered a live-stream camera feed that enabled voters to check the lines (usually more than three hours) before heading to that early polling site. The camera feed remained active on Election Day but the lines have vanished.

"The people really loved it," town Supervisor Paul Feiner said. "I got almost no complaints about waiting on lines. It was really a very nice experience."

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10 a.m.: Light turnout at American Legion

This voting site at 4 Everett Road in Albany was almost empty at 10 a.m. and had seen light turnout in the earlier morning hours as well.

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9:42 a.m.: Albany County Sheriff says deputies monitoring the polls

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said his deputies will be more visible on Election Day and will be checking every polling site in the county. Apple tweeted a picture of a mobile command unit stationed at the Albany County Board of Elections on South Pearl Street Tuesday morning.

The department is also preparing for the possibility of protests or violence after the election is decided.

“We are prepared for violence, but I hope and pray that folks accept the results and be peaceful,” Apple said Monday.

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9:29 a.m.: Slight voting snafu at Albany's Ancient Order or Hibernians

Several voters had to wait or come back later at the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 375 Ontario Street, after a district did not have ballots early Tuesday morning. There are eight election districts at the polling site. About 10 voters were impacted. Ballots were delivered by Albany County Board of Elections staff shortly thereafter.

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9:34 a.m. Bustling site in Guilderland

The Westmere Volunteer Fire Department was still bustling mid-morning, and there had been a line out the door and snaking around the sidewalk at 7:15 a.m., something an elections inspector hadn't seen before in decades of doing the work. A total of 482 people had voted, according to an unofficial tally. The voting equipment was working well.

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9 a.m.: No line at Halfmoon polling place

Poll inspectors at the Halfmoon Senior Center, which is adjacent to Town Hall and where voters from four of the town's 18 districts cast ballots, said there was a line out the door early in the morning. By 9 a.m., there was no line and voters could walk in without any wait time. A voter walking out the door greeted two people entering and noted he was thankful for the millions of people who voted early and made it easier for others to vote today without waiting in line.

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8:21 a.m.: Some Albany voting sites quiet Tuesday morning

At First Presbyterian Church on State Street in Albany, there was no line at 8:10 a.m. It was a similar scene at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Although poll worker Roland Lascala said there was a line that wrapped around the building before polls opened at 6 a.m.

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8:06 a.m.: Early votes will show up in count after 9 p.m.

The Schenectady County Board of Elections announced Monday night that it will begin posting Election Day results starting around 9:30 p.m. The results will be uploaded as they are available — which includes all the votes cast during the nine-day early voting period that ended Sunday. Schenectady County had the third largest percentage of registered voter turnout in New York.

To view Schenectady County's Live Election Results Tuesday night go to www.schenectadycounty.com/boe.

Meanwhile absentee ballots will not be opened until Nov. 9.  As of Monday morning, 16,175 absentee ballots were issued in Schenectady County, and 12,467 of those ballots have been returned.

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6:49 a.m.: For pollsters, a lot is on the line

Times Union columnist Chris Churchill spoke to Don Levy, longtime director of Siena College Research Institute. There's a lot on the line, Churchill notes.

The reputation of the polling industry took a hit when Trump won in an upset four years ago. If the president wins again this time, despite polls generally showing him well behind Biden, well ...

"It will not be polling's finest hour," Levy said Monday. Read more

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6:20 a.m.: Polls are open

Polls opened at 6 a.m. in the Capital Region, and across New York, Tuesday during a presidential election that is the most dramatic in at least a generation — and is happening during a pandemic.

Heading into Election Day, more than 3.5 million New Yorkers have already cast their ballots — whether they be through the previous nine days of early voting, or through absentee ballots.

But traffic is still expected to be heavy at polling sites across our local area and statewide. Lines already began forming in some areas just as the polls opened.

Nassau's town supervisor also tweeted out that it was snowing heavy when he left to help open a polling site before 6 a.m. The Capital Region was expected to mostly miss snow that is blanketing the Adirondacks and Central New York early Monday morning. Areas in Northern Saratoga County saw more than four inches of snow.

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