Mathew Hamilton is reporting in the Times Union on the trend among second-home owning Democrats whose main base of operations may be elsewhere to register and vote upstate. It is still unclear how the trend will impact registrations in the 19th Congressional District. NY 19 Votes, an activist group, started a website in July called Smart Vote NY to help drive registration of those with a second address upstate. The group will send pre-stamped voter registration forms to those who use the website to help ease the transition, NY 19 Votes Campaign Director Dustin Reidy said. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Chris Martin said of the effort, "These shady political tactics epitomize the desperation of a divided and leaderless Democratic Party." The GOP has used the carpetbagger claim in past election cycles, including the contest between Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout and Kinderhook native John Faso. Many of the candidates lining up to unseat Faso in 2018, have already made a point of stressing their roots in the region, even as some have lived elsewhere in the recent past. Asked about downstate voters registering here, Gareth Rhodes of Ulster County said the race will be decided by the residents of the district "...who have been betrayed by Faso's votes to take away...health care and [to] pollute our environment." A spokeswoman for Dutchess County resident Antonio Delgado said, "Antonio supports people registering and voting wherever they’re eligible to do so.” Brian Flynn of Greene County similarly said, “People should decide for themselves where it’s appropriate for them to register to vote.” Jeff Beals of Greene County and Pat Ryan of Ulster County both declined to comment. A representative for Dave Clegg of Ulster County did not respond to a request for comment. Read the full story in the Times Union and at the CapCon Notebook.