NY VOTERS COALITION CALLS FOR ELECTION ADMIN REFORM ALLOCATION IN STATE BUDGET

ALBANY, NY (11/18/2015)(readMedia)-- Today, members of the broad-based New York Voters Coalition, sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo asking him to create an election reform budget line in his 2016 Executive Budget. The letter, signed by Common Cause/NY. NYPIRG, the New York Immigration Coalition, Latino Justice PRLDEF, the League of Women Voters New York State, Women's City Club, Center for Law and Social Justice, and Professor John Flateau of Medgar Evens College, called on the Governor to "confirm your commitment to provide more opportunities for citizens to register and vote by including funding for important election reforms in your 2016 Executive Budget."

The letter asks the Governor to support adoption of Early Voting in New York by allocating $5 million to the counties as an incentive. The letter further asks that the Governor allocate $2 million in the budget to create a dedicated independent division in the New York State Office of Technology Services charged with developing in-house New York-specific Electronic Poll Book and Ballot on Demand software that could then be made available to counties at low- or no-cost.

The letter was sent to the Governor as various of the signatories prepare to testify before the Assembly Standing Committee on Elections regarding Early Voting and other possible election reforms.

The letter is attached.