Diane Dwire, who chairs the Camillus Democratic Committee and is a member of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee's executive board, submitted her specific objections to the state Board of Elections Monday. 

Dwire said in a phone interview Monday that she and a team of volunteers scrutinized the 3,276 signatures Perez Williams, D-Syracuse, submitted to the state Board of Elections. Following a 10-day review, Dwire believes most of the signatures — nearly 2,400 — are "improper or invalid." 

To qualify for the ballot, congressional candidates must collect 1,250 signatures to appear on the Democratic or Republican lines. 

The biggest issue Dwire and the volunteers found is signers didn't list the correct town or city on the petition. It's a technical problem that can occur because even though some residents may have a Syracuse mailing address, their home is located within a town. 

There were similar issues found with voters who reside in Camillus, but have Syracuse mailing addresses. Dwire believes having the incorrect hometown listed on a petition is a "fatal error," which means the signature could be ruled invalid. 

Dwire attributed the problems to paid canvassers who circulated petitions for Perez Williams. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee paid the canvassers as part of a last-minute effort to get Perez Williams on the ballot. 

"From reviewing numerous errors in the town and city columns on each petition, it is obvious the out-of-town petitioners did not know our area, making mistakes which local volunteers would have known to avoid," she said. 

Other potential issues raised by Dwire include canvassers who weren't eligible to pass petitions because they were either not registered to vote or they weren't registered with the Democratic Party. 

To circulate petitions for a Democratic primary, you must be a registered Democrat. You must be a registered Democrat to sign a Democratic candidate's petition. 

Dwire estimated that paid canvassers collected more than two-thirds of Perez Williams' signatures. She added that based on the signatures it seemed the canvassers focused on high traffic areas, such as the regional market in Syracuse or Syracuse University. 

"[I]t is clear this last-minute rush to get petitions caused all kinds of technical violations on the petitions themselves which reviewers believe are improper and invalid," Dwire explained. "Therefore, submitting these objections will ensure that all candidates who gain access to the ballot do so within the regulations set forth in New York state election law." 

Despite the objections to her petitions, Perez Williams is confident that she will appear on the primary ballot. 

"I understand that folks out there are pulling out all the stops to avoid a real conversation about how to best represent people in central New York," Perez Williams said in a statement. "It's frustrating that they're trying to overrule the will of thousands of voters, but no matter what they're saying the simple fact remains that thanks to overwhelming support from friends and neighbors across this area I will have enough signatures to get on the ballot." 

The state Board of Elections will determine whether the specific objections are valid. A hearing will be held to allow Perez Williams and Dwire to argue against the board's findings. Both parties would be permitted to submit additional documentation, according to the board. 

The election commissioners will make a final ruling on the objections at their next meeting on May 3. 

Perez Williams entered the congressional race in April. She is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. John Katko, a two-term Republican. 

The designated Democratic candidate in the race is Dana Balter. Balter has been endorsed by the four county Democratic committees in the district. 

The primary, if necessary, will be held June 26.