Scott Phillip Lewis stands outside the Olympic Center in Lake Placid Thursday, where he announced his candidacy to represent New York's 21st Congressional District. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

SARANAC LAKE — Scott Phillip Lewis, a candidate for New York’s 21st Congressional District, initially announced on Thursday that he would run on the Democratic Party line in the June primary, but after it was revealed he is not a member of the Democratic Party and is ineligible to petition to be part of that primary election, he says he plans to circulate an independent petition to get on the November ballot on a different party line.

Essex County Deputy Democratic Commissioner Jennifer Fifield said on Friday that Lewis is currently registered as “blank” under party affiliation on the county voter rolls. Lewis said he was under the impression he was registered as a Democrat. She confirmed that he has now filed paperwork to become part of the party, but Fifield said this will take effect on July 5, after the June 25 Democratic primary election. Democrats Steve Holden and Paula Collins are currently working to get on the ballot for this primary.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and Jill Lochner are working to win the primary for the Republican line, and Brian Rouleau is seeking the Working Families Party line.

Fifield said this means Lewis cannot petition to run on the Democratic line himself, since he is not a member of the party. He could seek endorsements from NY-21 county committees, who could then circulate petitions for him, she added.

But Lewis, 34, is instead planning to circulate an independent petition. He isn’t sure for what party yet.

“A blessing in disguise,” he said Friday. “I’m going to be able to reach more voters because I’m not just talking to Democrats.”

He’ll now need to gather 3,500 signatures instead of the 1,250 needed for the Democratic primary, but they can be from people registered with any party. To get on the Democratic primary, petition signatures must come from registered Democrats.

Signatures for independent petitions can start being collected on April 16, Fifield said, and must be filed between May 21 and 28.

“It may be added work to the uphill battle but nothing that discourages me from the ultimate goal of serving the people of District 21,” Lewis said. “The fact remains the same, I am the best person to represent District 21.”

Fifield also said Lewis’ voter address was at the Lake Placid Outpost Plaza where the UPS store is located. She said Lewis has also now submitted a form to update his voting address to a property in Saranac Lake within Essex County. This change takes effect immediately.

Lewis said he was going through a move at the time he registered his voting address, and that’s why his address was at the UPS store.

Voting addresses are a gray area in the election law, as has been brought to light in several recent local elections. Technically, people can have valid voting addresses nearly anywhere. This is to keep voting open to homeless people. These addresses could be challenged and brought to court, but this does not happen often.

Election Day is Nov. 5.