UPDATED W/ PHOTOS: AG Eric Schneiderman and Hundreds of Advocates Rally for Early Voting

NEW YORK, NY (03/19/2018) (readMedia)-- Attorney General Schneiderman, New York City elected officials, unions and grassroots organizations rallied at Foley Square to urge the New York State legislature to include early voting in the state budget due April 1st.

Here is a link to photos from yesterday's rally. Photo credit goes to: David Moriya / Rogue Photo. He can be found at @RoguePhotoUSA and RoguePhoto.org.

Early voting would allow eligible voters to cast ballots in-person days, sometimes weeks, before an election. Currently, 37 states already have some form of early voting, leaving New York as one of only 13 states without any means to vote early except via absentee ballot.

In February, Governor C uomo announced an historic 30-day amendment to his proposed budget that would provide approximately $7 million to New York counties to offer early voting up to 12 days in advance of Election Day. However, the Assembly's proposed one-house bill is only for 8 days, which is insufficient, while the Senate's proposed budget excludes early voting all together. The budget will be voted on at the end of this month.

"The right to vote is the right that protects all other rights," said New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman. "Yet New York's current voting system is an affront to the values of democracy on which this state was built. Early voting would be a critical step forward in the fight for more accessible elections. My office won't stop fighting to protect and expand voting rights for New Yorkers."

Attorney General Schneiderman has been a leader in the fight to reform New York's antiquated voting laws, detailing New York's voter access issues in a 2016 report, and introducing legislation to protect and expand voting rights.

"As Dr. King said 53 years ago, "The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave Negroes some part of their rightful dignity, but without the vote it was dignity without strength." As we commemorate the 50th year since his assassination, we cannot carry on his legacy until everyone in New York State has a fair opportunity to cast their ballot, not just within 15 hours," said Minister Kirsten John Foy.

"The right to vote is sacred, but New York is stuck in another era. For New York to lead in this century and the next, we need to tear down barriers to voting, modernize our laws, and engage residents across the five boroughs by giving them the ability to vote early. Every voice matters and every vote counts. That's why we need our voting laws to catch up with the rest of the country. Now more than ever, it's the right thing - and the smart thing - to do," said City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

"Early voting is something that we need to see in New York so that everyone's voices are heard at polling sites. People should not have to choose between working and voting. New York was 41st out of the entire country when it comes to voter participation and Early Voting will assist in bringing more New Yorkers to the Ballot Box," said Assemblymember Latrice Walker.

"The right to vote is at the heart our democracy, and the act of voting can often be incredibly difficult," said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12). "Lines on election day can be long, polling sites are not always convenient, and the hours of operation can make it difficult for many New Yorkers to find the time to vote. Early voting would make the entire process more accessible for all our voters, ensuring every person has the opportunity to make their voice heard where it matters most, at the ballot box. I am proud to strongly support this initiative."

"Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy -- and while we all know that voting is a fundamental right, our rhetoric is far ahead of our reality in New York. The simple fact is we've let New York's election laws atrophy, and we now have one of the worst voter turnout rates in the country," said State Senator Brian Kavanagh, Ranking Member of the Senate Elections Committee and sponsor of early voting legislation. "Elected officials work for the voters -- and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to ensure they can make their voices heard at the ballot box. New Yorkers should not be disenfranchised simply because they're busy on any given Tuesday. Early voting would allow seniors, working parents, those with non-traditional schedules, and every busy New Yorker to vote when it's convenient. This year, we have a real chance of making New York the 38th state with early voting, and we'll keep fighting to make sure this commonsense reform is included in the final budget."

"We must do everything we can to break down the barriers to voting so that working New Yorkers can make their voices heard at the ballot box," said 32BJ President Hector Figueroa. "Now is the time for early voting, a common-sense policy that will help more people cast their vote. This is good for our state, our country, and our democracy. We urge our legislative leaders to pass early voting in the state budget."

"It's appalling that a progressive state like New York is so behind when it comes to making it easier to vote," said Speaker Corey Johnson. "We should make this democratic process easier so everyone can have the opportunity to exercise their civic duty. I want to thank AG Schneiderman, advocates and partners in government in urging the State legislature to consider early voting in their budget.

"It's time for New York to do what 37 other states have already done and pass early voting. It's a non-partisan no brainer that 67% of New Yorkers support. Common Cause/NY joins with over 30 organizations from across the state in urging the legislature to follow the Governor's lead and include funding for early voting in the final budget. It's time to bring New York's antiquated system of elections into the 21st century," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.

Jarret Berg, Executive Director of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council (NYDLC) said: "The premise of our democracy is that Americans have the fundamental right to participate in the election of its leaders, but today, millions of busy New Yorkers lack real opportunities to vote because they are restricted to voting on one workday from one assigned location. Why? Our Lawmakers have the duty and the means to fix that right now in the budget. Early voting helps ensure fair access to the ballot and can greatly improve our strained election administration.

"Democracy is a participatory sport. To maintain a level playing field in the political realm it is imperative we broaden the base of participation. Early voting is one step in that direction and should be given financial support in this year's state budget," said Rev. Richard S. Gilbert, President, Interfaith Impact of New York State.

"Women fought and died for the right to vote 100 yrs ago. But for many women - as well as people of color, immigrants, the working poor, other marginalized communities, and anyone with work & personal responsibilities - it's still nearly impossible to get to the polls. The right to vote means nothing without the access to vote. 100 years is long enough, we need Early Voting this year to close the gap," said advocate Shabd Simon-Alexander.

"In a country where the majority of states allow voters more than one day to vote, and in a state where the majority of New Yorkers want more than one day to vote, we cannot let a minority of elected officials in Albany deny us reasonable access to our fundamental right to vote. New Yorkers deserve early voting and we expect our leaders to protect our freedom to vote and make sure it passes this year," said Amanda Ritchie, Member of Brooklyn Voters Alliance.

"Reform Jewish Voice of New York State (RJVNYS) is a strong supporter of Early Voting and urges the New York State Senate to join the Governor and New York State Assembly in including Early Voting, and the $7 million for implementation, in the final budget," said Barbara Zaron of Reform Jewish Voice of New York State (RJVNYS).

"Voter access to the ballot box is a fundamental right in democracy. Yet, as New Yorkers, too many of our voices are silenced because we're limited to only one day to *exercise this right/express our political will. Early voting amplifies our voices as citizens and represents democracy in action," said impacted voter, Na'ilah Amaru.

"New York State cannot claim to be the shining progressive light on the hill as long as it continues to have some of the most antiquated voting laws in the country," said L. Joy Williams, President of the Brooklyn NAACP.

"We in New York are one of the last in nation in voter turnout because our legislature and Governor has refused to pass laws that break down barriers to voting. One easy thing that we can do is join the 37 other states and Washington D.C. and provide early voting for our residents. It is good to see that the Governor and many in the legislature are finally making this and other sensible reforms a priority in this year's budget. It's time to get it done," said Jonah Minkoff-Zern, Director, Public Citizen's Democracy Is For People Campaign.

"Most states already give their citizens the option to cast their votes early. It's time for New York to catch up. Many New Yorkers cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, but still want-and deserve-to have their voices heard. The Brennan Center supports early voting as a crucial way to help more New Yorkers exercise their right to vote, and urges the New York State legislature to include early voting in the state budget," said Joanna Zdanys, Counsel for the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

"Our democracy is stronger, New York is stronger, when more people vote. Early voting makes that possible- especially for workers whose job schedules prevent them from voting. We need to stop disenfranchising hard working women and men, and give them a real chance to exercise their constitutional right to vote and select representatives who will fight for their needs," said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

"New York is woefully behind in how we elect our representatives. Early voting opens the franchise to the many who work several jobs just to make ends meet. Democracy does not function when so many of our fellow citizens cannot participate," said Mazeda A, Uddin of the South Asian Fund For Education, Scholarship and Training (SAFEST).

Background

A Siena Poll released in February shows that 67% of New Yorkers, including 60% of Upstate New Yorkers, 48% of Republicans, and 65% of suburban New Yorkers, support early voting. This percentage is up two points from January

This year, Let NY Vote, formerly known as Easy Elections NY, formed as a statewide coalition of organizations & grassroots groups fighting to modernize New York's elections. The goal is to pass simple solutions in 2018 to improve our elections and remove barriers to registering and voting for all eligible New Yorkers.

The rally was co-sponsored by members of the Let NY Vote coalition, which includes over thirty organizations, nonprofits, and labor unions, including Common Cause/NY, Public Citizen, New York State United Teachers, SEIU 32BJ, RWDSU, CWA District 1, as well as the statewide NAACP and the National Action Network, grassroots organizations, faith groups, civil liberties, reproductive and immigrant rights, criminal justice and re-entry groups, New American, and the LGBTQ community. A full list is available at letnyvote.org.Attorney General Schneiderman has been a leader in the fight to reform New York's antiquated voting laws, detailing New York's voter access issues in a 2016 report, and introducing legislation to protect and expand voting rights.