Early Voting STILL Unfunded

NEW YORK, NY (02/15/2019) (readMedia)-- Today, Governor Cuomo announced amendments to the 2020 Executive Budget, once again failing to properly fund early voting.

In response, Susan Lerner, the Executive Director of Common Cause/NY, and founding member of Let NY Vote, issued the following statement:

"The Governor says he's for early voting but today he's failed to properly fund it in his 30-day budget amendments, choosing instead to stick local counties with the bill. The Let NY Vote Coalition urges the two houses of the Legislature to include funding for Early Voting in their one-house budgets and fill the gap left by the Governor. We are willing and ready to work with the Legislature to find cost-saving measures like renting electronic poll-books as opposed to purchasing them, that would help ease the burden. New Yorkers deserve early voting that is well-run this November, not another election day debacle."

Early voting, which Governor Cuomo signed into law earlier this year, will allow citizens to cast their ballots in person ten days before an election.

Twenty national groups, like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, have pushed Governor Cuomo to fully fund early voting in New York. Their letter is attached.

The Governor has suggested that the future consolidation of primaries (which does not go into effect until 2020) will produce a cost savings, but that would not replace a dedicated funding stream. Right now, early voting is an unfunded mandate for counties to pay. Cost estimates for early voting project that at least $25 million in dedicated appropriations will be needed for successful implementation.

Background:

The Let NY Vote Coalition is a statewide network of over 100 member organizations ranging from 32BJ, to NAACP New York to New York State Indivisible. Full coalition list here.

The Let NY Vote coalition has been demanding common sense voting reform in New York for years such as:

Early Voting: in place in 37 other states, allowing citizens to cast ballots in person days, sometimes weeks, before an election.

Pre-registration of 16 and 17-year-olds: 13 states plus DC allow for pre-registration for voting at 16 and 17 years old. Pre-registration increases the likelihood of voter participation among young adults. Engaging potential voters at a young age and bringing them into the voting process early helps create lifelong voters.

Consolidation of Primary Dates: Currently New York has two primary days in June and September, confusing voters. New York is the only state with two primaries.

Vote by mail: No eligible voter should have to provide a reason to be able to vote absentee.

Same day registration: 18 states and DC have Same Day Registration. Same Day Registration enables voters to register and vote at the same time and increases voter turnout.

Universal transfer of voter registration: If a voter moves anywhere within New York State, their registration address will be automatically updated, and if not, he or she will be able to vote by affidavit ballot.