CHENANGO COUNTY – County residents will head to the polls today for the June Republican primary elections.

The only election voters will decide this year is the hotly contested Congressional race between incumbent Richard Hanna and New York’s 101st Assembly District Representative Claudia Tenney. Both candidates are vying for the seat of New York’s 22nd Congressional District and each has been backed by a number of public affiliations from Chenango County and the surrounding areas.

The 22nd Congressional District covers all of Chenango, Cortland, Madison and Oneida Counties and parts of Broome, Herkimer, Oswego and Tioga Counties.

While Hanna, a businessman with a reputation of voting on both sides of the political spectrum, has been backed by local organizations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Chenango County Republican Committee, Tenney has gained traction among conservative groups in recent months, and last week gained endorsement of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund.

The political back and forth between Hanna and Tenney has drawn attention of voters since Tenney’s announcement to run earlier this year, primarily due to Tenney’s challenge of Hanna to a public debate that never took place.

“The people of upstate New York deserve a Representative who is responsible to the people and is willing to confront the opposition,” said Assemblywoman Tenney. “Thus far, my opponent has refused, despite having much to answer for in his four years in Congress. Instead, he has engaged in political pandering in a last ditch attempt to appear conservative, while outside groups, like the American Unity PAC, have highlighted his liberal record.”

According to Richard Hanna for Congress, this election is centered on top-heavy issues including the preservation of the agriculture industry, citizen legislature, eduction, energy, health care, the economy, and national security. Most recently, Hanna gained endorsement of former State Senator Raymond Meier, the Binghamton Fire Fighters, and Rome Lab and Defense Finance employees.

Polls open today from noon to 9 p.m. Polling location in Chenango County include:

• Afton Fire Station

• Bainbridge Town Hall

• Columbus Town Hall

• Coventry Town Hall

• German Town Hall

• Greene Church of Immaculate Conception

• Guilford Town Hall

• Lincklaen Town Hall

• McDonough Town Hall

• Unadilla Valley Central School

• Norwich Town Hall

• North Norwich Town Hall

• St. Bart’s Parish Center in the City of Norwich

• Otselic Fire Station

• Town of Oxford Fire Station

• Pharsalia Town Hall

• Pitcher Town Hall

• Plymouth Fire Station

• Preston Town Hall

• Sherburne American Legion

• Smithville Fire Station

• Smyrna Town Hall