Election reform React-O-Mat™

By on January 14, 2019 at 9:12 PM

The state Legislature on Monday passed a slate of electoral reform bills that would update New York’s arcane voting laws and increase access to the polls on Election Day.

The changes are sparking many emotions (to our email inbox), and we want to share them with you!

League of Women Voters of New York State:

“As the New York State League proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, it is a truly monumental achievement to finally see the passage of early voting, same day voter registration, and primary consolidation in New York State! Each of the reforms passed by the Assembly and Senate are huge advances to New York’s election procedures. With these new policies in place, New York should no longer rank among the worst states in the Nation in voter participation.

 Since the 1960’s the state League has fought for comprehensive voting reforms. We are proud to be a part of this historic event and we applaud the New York State Assembly and Senate for finally passing these reforms. We thank Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for their leadership and dedication to these issues.  We commend the legislators who have long supported these voting reforms, even in the face of previous gridlock. Finally we want to recognize our members who have fought tirelessly to see New York’s voting system made more accessible to all New Yorkers. We look forward to working with the Legislature and Governor on the roll-out of these new policies.”  

Sen. Robert Ortt, western New York Republican:

“Increasing the ability of American citizens to participate in our electoral process is an important task that should be supported by all. However, with increased access to voting comes the danger of fraud and abuse within our democracy. Many of the laws passed today have been hastily thrown together in the name of ‘progress’ and ignore the safeguards we vitally need to ensure the integrity of our elections. Expanding access to the polls without addressing safety protocols to protect the integrity of our electoral process is a disservice to the voters of our state.”

Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Long Island Democrat:

“The ability to vote is at the heart of our republic and it is critical for us to enable and empower our fellow citizens to partake in the democratic process. From allowing New Yorkers to vote at a time convenient to them, to allowing same-day voter registration, these reforms are no-brainers, and I was proud to be part of the effort to reduce barriers to participation in our democracy. By increasing voter turnout, we can jumpstart the participation our democracy deserves to ensure that government works for the people it is meant to serve.”

Assemblyman Michael Norris, a western New York Republican:

“It is crucial that every citizen who wants to be a registered voter has the opportunity to participate in our electoral process. I am proud to have voted today to support that goal by removing barriers that prevented voters from obtaining absentee ballots. Once approved as a constitutional amendment any registered voter would be able to obtain a ‘no excuse needed’ absentee ballot, allowing many more New Yorkers to vote with greater convenience. This is a common-sense measure to reduce costs, increase participation and maintain the sanctity of our elections.”

“I voted to further clean up and reform Albany by closing the LLC loophole, a measure that has allowed outside influences to control our state Capitol for too long,” Norris stated, “I was also proud to stand up for overtaxed citizens by voting to consolidate primary elections in our state. Having more than one primary date is not only confusing to the public, but also extremely costly to local governments and disruptive to the regular business of New Yorkers who want to vote as well as the locations serving as polling places. This was an unfunded mandate that I am happy to vote to lift and also will streamline and simplify voting.”

Sen. Peter Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat:

“This is a giant first step for NYS Democrats to fulfill the campaign promises we made to our constituents. New York will now have one of the most progressive sets of voter laws in the nation, ensuring everyone eligible ample opportunity to cast their votes.”

 “We must prevent an unfunded mandate from being thrust on New York State’s counties, which are already operating on tight budgets,” he said.  “I’m going to continue to fight for the appropriate funding to be included in the budget.”

Sen. Catharine Young, a western New York Republican:

“Senate Republicans believe in responsible governing and that means not burdening localities with unfunded mandates, not campaigning during the busiest time of the state legislative calendar while collecting a check from taxpayers and most of all keeping promises to New Yorkers to enact the Republican authored plan to permanently cap property taxes and state spending at two percent. On Day Two, we already saw that the only members committed to those promises are Republicans.”

NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman:

“There is no reason voting should be hard and nothing should keep New Yorkers from having their say in our democracy. With the reforms passed today, the new State Legislature is taking a huge step toward fixing New York’s antiquated voting laws and delivering on its progressive promise. Voting is the right we exercise to protect all other rights, a responsibility that is more important than ever in the face of the Trump administration’s ruthless assault on our democracy.” 

State Attorney General Letitia James:

“Voting is our most basic democratic right, and by making it easier to vote we are making good on our promise to be a progressive state. For too long, New York has been governed by antiquated voting laws that limit our ability to exercise this right, rather than encourage, expand, and simplify the process. I applaud the New York State Legislature for acting swiftly to pass these critical bills to provide early voting, same-day voter registration, pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, portable registration, no excuse absentee voting, and consolidating primaries. I look forward to these bills being signed into law and New York finally addressing voter suppression.”

Sen. Jim Gaughran, a Long Island Democrat:

“I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of this important package of voting reforms and that finally bring voting right in New York into the 21st century. But it’s also critically important that these long-overdue reforms do not create unfunded mandates for our counties.

As Chair of the Committee on Local Government, I look forward to working with our local officials to identify and eliminate inefficient and burdensome mandates to offset the costs of these crucial reforms.”

New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario:

“Outside of New York City, election costs are the mandated responsibility of county governments through local boards of elections. The operational budgets for these local boards have been enacted at the close of 2018. Additional costs associated with staffing and securing early voting locations, printing and counting additional ballots, ensuring elections are safe from cyber security threats, and meeting other legal election requirements have not been fully calculated by the state and counties. Estimates for these new provisions suggest that it could cost between $500,000 to $1 million per county outside of New York City, depending on its size. Under a two percent property tax cap, counties cannot afford additional new costs associated with early voting and other election reforms. 

Combining the state and federal primaries will not provide counties outside New York City with enough savings to offset the cost of early voting.

NYSAC requests that the State work with local boards of elections to enumerate the full fiscal impact of early voting and ensure proper funding is appropriated to cover the costs before any statutory provisions are put in place.  On behalf of the counties outside New York City, we call on Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Legislators to include funding in the 2019-20 State Budget to cover the cost of implementing early voting, otherwise it will be one more unfunded state mandated cost on local property taxpayers.”

Citizen Action of New York co-Executive Director Jessica Wisneski

“On just the second day of legislative session, the new Senate majority partnered with the Assembly to send a long-awaited bill of critical democracy reforms to the Governor’s desk. The roadblock to reform has been smashed, and now it’s time for our leaders in Albany to take the power away from the wealthy and well-connected and give it to the people.

“For too long our voting and campaign finance laws have kept power concentrated in the hands of a few, while blocking people of color, low-income people, and young people from having a true voice in the electoral process. The next step to strengthening our democracy is enacting a small donor matching program for campaigns and lowering contribution limits across the board.”

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo:

Sen. Jen Metzger, a Hudson Valley Democrat:

“I feel fortunate to be part of this historic moment when the New York State Senate votes to pass election reforms that bring New York into the modern era and greatly expand voter participation in our state. This package of legislation will do much to fix our overly restrictive election laws, which have contributed to New York’s low voter-turnout compared to most other states.

We also finally close the LLC loophole, which has allowed millions of unaccountable corporate dollars to flow into the campaign coffers of elected officials, and has had a corrosive influence on our government.

I am proud to co-sponsor all of these reforms and I’m grateful to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Senators Michael Gianaris, Leroy Comrie, David Carlucci, Zellnor Myrie, and Brian Kavanagh for championing them.”