ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- More voters generally find their way to the polls during a Presidential election year. But just because turnout is higher overall, it doesn't mean it always trickles down.

According to data from the State Board of Elections, trends for congressional votes in Onondaga County were lower during Presidential years versus gubernatorial years. In 1980, it was a Presidential year and more than 70,000 voters casted ballots in that race, but not for congress. In 1982, it was a Governor's race and although votes for congress were still much lower, the margin was down and in 1984 and 1986, there were Presidential and gubernatorial races, respectively. For both those years, the congressional numbers were about 4,000 higher.

During the 1990s, congressional votes continued to decline, regardless of the top of the ticket, but congressional votes remained much lower when it was a presidential election. From 2002 to 2006 the numbers are clear. Voters paid less attention to local races when the White House was up for grabs.

State pollsters say in a competitive year like this, it comes down to turnout and which side is better at educating their voters.

"Which campaign is better at making their voters aware that you can't just vote for President, you gotta work your way down the ballot, past the judges and get to the state senate race and pull the lever in that race as well," said Siena Research Institute spokesman Steve Greenberg.