They filled out debate bingo cards, sipped drinks, booed, laughed and discussed the candidates’ performances with a mixture of excitement and concern.

Paula Collins, a Democrat running against North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik for the New York 21st Congressional District seat, traveled to town for the event and spoke to the voters gathered in the basement bar and event space.

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Collins attends

Saranac Laker Kelly Metzgar speaks to Democratic voters at a debate watch party at the Garagery on Tuesday night. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

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Collins said she needed to spend more time in Saranac Lake. When the Saranac Lake Democratic Committee invited her to the debate watch party, she was glad to attend.

She often hears from supporters that they don’t feel enough people in the district know about her. Part of that is Stefanik’s “incumbent advantage,” she said.

“Elise sneezes and the media’s there,” Collins said.

She said she’s making the case that a vote for Stefanik is a proxy vote for Trump. She believes there are many local voters who are done with Trump but still like Elise. Collins accused Stefanik of having a “dark agenda.”

Harrietstown Supervisor Jordanna Mallach speaks to Democratic voters at a debate watch party at the Garagery on Tuesday night. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“We’ve got to get Elise out of our halls of Congress because she presents a clear and present danger to our democracy,” Collins said.

Collins told voters to “vote blue” to maintain transgender rights, LGBTQIA-plus rights, women’s rights, the truth, the economy, immigration, labor and military rights.

Collins said she saw a diversity of ages in Saranac Lake Democrats while many other towns and villages in the district consistently have an older generation.

She also said many young people she speaks with are “disengaged” from politics and don’t feel either party can help them. Collins tells them there are many reasons to vote. If they are a former military member, have a parent on social security, have a disability, have children in school or care about the environment, she said voting is important.

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Democratic Congressional candidate Paula Collins speaks to Democratic voters at a debate watch party at the Garagery on Tuesday night. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Amendment and local matters

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Saranac Laker Kelly Metzgar spoke about the Equal Rights Amendment, which voters will see on the back of their ballots on Nov. 5.

Metzgar said this proposed amendment to the state constitution would not add any new laws. Rather, it would codify and solidify rights already provided in the state constitution, making them harder to overturn.

These rights include abortion, LGBTQIA-plus rights, transgender health care, in vitro fertilization, employment rights and equal opportunity rights for seniors.

Democratic Congressional candidate Paula Collins speaks to Democratic voters at a debate watch party at the Garagery on Tuesday night. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Last election cycle, Metzgar said the state came close to electing a Republican governor. As a transgender woman, she said this was “scary as hell.”

“They firmly believe that trans people are trying to take over our youth, that we’re going to get them in the school and we’re going to give them surgery. They believe this,” Metzgar said. “What is happening on the national basis is happening here in town.”

Harrietstown Supervisor Jordanna Mallach said there is a pipeline from the local to the national level, and that if voters want to see a female president, or a Democrat in a national office, they also need to elect people like that at the local level.

Saranac Laker Shaun Kittle said he helped form the Saranac Lake Democratic Committee to be a home for members of the party in the village which is split by two counties and three towns. The village has not had its own Democratic committee for a while, and Kittle said after its formation, this debate watch party was the first big public event it held, with more planned.

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Debate differences

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After the debate, Collins said Harris had an “incredible performance.”

Stefanik said Trump had a strong victory. In a statement, she said Trump held Harris accountable for “failed Kamalanomics fueling inflation, her role as Joe Biden’s open border czar and her weakness on the world stage.”

Stefanik also accused the debate moderators of being pro-Kamala activists instead of journalists for fact-checking Trump while “allowing Kamala to lie repeatedly.”

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Election info

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The election will take place on Nov. 5 and polls in Franklin and Essex counties will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Voters must register before Oct. 26 to be eligible to vote, and mailed applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 21 and received by the board of elections no later than Oct. 26.

Any change of address must be received by the board no later than Oct. 21.

To request a vote by early mail or by absentee ballot, applications must be received by the board no later than Oct. 26. A state portal to make an application can be found at tinyurl.com/23b6me5m.

Early mail and absentee ballots can be returned in person at the board of election office until Nov. 4.

Changes in election law since the 2022 election state that if a voter requests an absentee ballot, they are not longer permitted by vote by machine on election day or during the early voting period. Previously, voters who requested absentee ballots could vote by machine, and one vote would be invalidated. Now, if an absentee ballot is requested, the voter is required to vote using that method.

Early voting in Franklin County will take place at the Courthouse Kitchen Conference Room at 355 West Main St. in Malone from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3. Voting will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 26, 27, 28 and 30 as well as on Nov. 1, 2, and 3. Voting will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 31.

The Franklin County Board of Elections can be reached at 518-481-1455.

Early voting in Essex County will take place at the Lake Placid Beach House at 31 Parkside Dr. in Lake Placid and at the Essex County Public Safety Building at 702 Stowersville Road in Lewis from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3. Voting will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 26, 27, 29 and 31, as well as on Nov. 1, 2 and 3. Voting will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Oct. 28 and 30.

The Essex County Board of Elections can be reached at 518-873-3474.

The state Board of Elections can be reached at 518-474-1953.