Blog

As Election Day approaches, it's crucial to remember the power of your vote. Whether you're casting your ballot for candidates who reflect your values or weighing in on local proposals that impact your community, voting is one of the most significant ways to shape the future.  

This year's Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 5, and early voting begins on Saturday, October 26. Taking the time to vote ensures that your voice is heard—and in a community where businesses and local government are deeply interconnected, your vote can help create lasting change. 

The right leadership can foster a climate that supports business growth, encourages innovation, and drives economic prosperity. This is why showing up at the polls matters—not just for your individual interests, but for the overall health and success of our business ecosystem. 

Local Business Advocacy: BNP's Pro-Business Efforts This Year 

While voting is a vital civic duty, it also holds tremendous importance for local businesses. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP) has been hard at work advocating for pro-business policies that support the success of our region.  

This past year, BNP celebrated several advocacy wins, including: 

• In response to the region’s shovel-ready industrial sites, the BNP successfully advocated for funding of the FAST NY shovel-ready grant program. 
• The BNP successfully advocated for the creation of Empire AI, an artificial intelligence research consortium that will be housed at UB.  
• BNP advocacy efforts were critical in stopping a proposal to decommission the natural gas distribution network, as we continue the fight to keep energy sustainable.  

These achievements illustrate the importance of having business-minded leaders in office who will champion the needs of the local economy. With that in mind, voting in this election allows you to elect representatives who align with the interests of the business community. 

Why Businesses Should Encourage Voting 

For businesses, supporting employees in exercising their right to vote is not only good for democracy but also beneficial for business. Research has shown that companies that encourage civic engagement tend to see a more engaged workforce, improved brand loyalty, and a stronger community presence.

Businesses need to remind their employees about the importance of voting, whether that’s providing flexible hours on Election Day or sharing resources on how to vote. 

Proposals on the Ballot: What You Need to Know 

In addition to voting for candidates, Erie County voters will see two important proposals on their ballots this year. Here’s a brief overview: 

• Amendment Proposal: This proposal would protect individuals from unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex—including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy. It also extends protection related to reproductive healthcare and autonomy. 

• Erie County Proposal: This would change the requirement for how the county legislature imposes the state-authorized 1% and 0.75% sales and compensating use tax. Currently, it requires a two-thirds affirmative vote; the proposal would reduce this to a simple majority vote. 

Before heading to the polls, it’s important to be informed about these measures and how they might impact your community and local businesses. 

Voter Resources 

 If you’re voting on Election Day, make sure you know where to go: 

• Early voting opens Saturday, October 26. Lists of early voting sites are available for Erie County here and Niagara County here. 
• Erie County voters can look up their polling places and sample ballots here 
• Niagara County voters can find their polling place here and sample ballot here. 

To further understand where the leading candidates stand on key business and economic issues, the BNP recently hosted a panel of experts who examined the Trump and Harris campaigns. You can listen to the event here.

Voting is your chance to help shape the future of our community and the success of local businesses. Be informed, get out to the polls, and make your voice heard!