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Some of the Nation’s Worst Voting Laws? Right Here in New York. Why Deep Blue New York Is ‘Voter Suppression Land’
(35 minutes later)
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In 2016, when the governor of Ohio was asked why he had signed a bill to limit early voting, he had a simple retort: He pointed to another state that had no early voting at all.In 2016, when the governor of Ohio was asked why he had signed a bill to limit early voting, he had a simple retort: He pointed to another state that had no early voting at all.
When North Carolina’s governor was sued for cutting early voting in his own state, his lawyers cited that same state as rebuttal.When North Carolina’s governor was sued for cutting early voting in his own state, his lawyers cited that same state as rebuttal.
In each case, the state in question was New York. Deep blue, liberal-ideal New York.In each case, the state in question was New York. Deep blue, liberal-ideal New York.
Despite its reputation for sterling progressivism, New York has some of the most restrictive election laws in the nation. It is one of just 12 states without early voting. No other state holds its federal and state primary elections on different days. Voters who want to change their party affiliation must do so more than a year before the election, a rule that famously left Ivanka Trump unable to vote for her father in the 2016 Republican primary.Despite its reputation for sterling progressivism, New York has some of the most restrictive election laws in the nation. It is one of just 12 states without early voting. No other state holds its federal and state primary elections on different days. Voters who want to change their party affiliation must do so more than a year before the election, a rule that famously left Ivanka Trump unable to vote for her father in the 2016 Republican primary.
“New Yorkers would be aghast if anyone accused New York of voter suppression,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. But, she said, “the antiquated nature of our laws and the failure to enact any common-sense reforms for years puts us kind of in voter suppression land.”“New Yorkers would be aghast if anyone accused New York of voter suppression,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. But, she said, “the antiquated nature of our laws and the failure to enact any common-sense reforms for years puts us kind of in voter suppression land.”
That failure may finally end next year, now that Democrats have captured the State Senate, giving the party control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s seat for the first time in a decade.That failure may finally end next year, now that Democrats have captured the State Senate, giving the party control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s seat for the first time in a decade.
On Monday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled a lengthy list of election reforms, promising to make them his priorities for the first 100 days of the new year. The list included early voting, automatic voter registration, vote-by-mail and a merging of the dates of the federal and state primary elections.On Monday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled a lengthy list of election reforms, promising to make them his priorities for the first 100 days of the new year. The list included early voting, automatic voter registration, vote-by-mail and a merging of the dates of the federal and state primary elections.
“The federal government is working to disenfranchise voters. We have to do the exact opposite and improve our democracy,” Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a speech. “Let’s make a real statement about the importance of voting, and let’s make Election Day a state holiday and say to people, ‘Get out and vote.’”“The federal government is working to disenfranchise voters. We have to do the exact opposite and improve our democracy,” Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a speech. “Let’s make a real statement about the importance of voting, and let’s make Election Day a state holiday and say to people, ‘Get out and vote.’”
The governor also threw his support behind an overhaul of campaign finance laws, including banning all corporate contributions and closing the so-called L.L.C. loophole, which allows real estate moguls and others to donate unlimited amounts to candidates.The governor also threw his support behind an overhaul of campaign finance laws, including banning all corporate contributions and closing the so-called L.L.C. loophole, which allows real estate moguls and others to donate unlimited amounts to candidates.
Mr. Cuomo and Democrats in both legislative chambers have pushed bills to overhaul the state’s elections for years, but the Republican-controlled Senate had consistently refused to call them to the floor for a vote, despite a declared desire to lift New York’s abysmal voter turnout rates. Low turnout among Democrats has historically helped Republicans overcome their enrollment disadvantage. Critics have also cited concerns about the cost of early voting.Mr. Cuomo and Democrats in both legislative chambers have pushed bills to overhaul the state’s elections for years, but the Republican-controlled Senate had consistently refused to call them to the floor for a vote, despite a declared desire to lift New York’s abysmal voter turnout rates. Low turnout among Democrats has historically helped Republicans overcome their enrollment disadvantage. Critics have also cited concerns about the cost of early voting.
Democrats have promised that their long-stalled initiatives will finally become law.Democrats have promised that their long-stalled initiatives will finally become law.
“Our priorities will involve many of the bills that the Assembly has passed time and again,” said Assemblyman Charles Lavine, who chairs the chamber’s elections committee.“Our priorities will involve many of the bills that the Assembly has passed time and again,” said Assemblyman Charles Lavine, who chairs the chamber’s elections committee.
But even the most ardent backers acknowledged political and logistical obstacles.But even the most ardent backers acknowledged political and logistical obstacles.
Not only Republicans are to blame for the inertia of voting reform in New York, according to Wendy Weiser, the director of the Democracy Program at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice. Machine politics and the advantages of incumbency make many politicians wary of changing the system.Not only Republicans are to blame for the inertia of voting reform in New York, according to Wendy Weiser, the director of the Democracy Program at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice. Machine politics and the advantages of incumbency make many politicians wary of changing the system.
“Elected officials often oppose changes to the electoral system in which they were elected,” Ms. Weiser said. “It’s the incumbency protection agency: ‘It worked for me, it must be a good system.’”“Elected officials often oppose changes to the electoral system in which they were elected,” Ms. Weiser said. “It’s the incumbency protection agency: ‘It worked for me, it must be a good system.’”
Mr. Lavine said he expected early voting and merging primaries to pass immediately, but he was more reserved on the prospects of public financing of campaigns or a ban on corporate money; he said the Assembly would give those ideas “great consideration.”Mr. Lavine said he expected early voting and merging primaries to pass immediately, but he was more reserved on the prospects of public financing of campaigns or a ban on corporate money; he said the Assembly would give those ideas “great consideration.”
“It’s not that I anticipate blowback in the classic sense,” he said of the corporate money proposal. “But this is something that is going to require a lot of discussion. And both Democratic conferences, in the Senate and the Assembly, have to listen to the concerns of each of their members.”“It’s not that I anticipate blowback in the classic sense,” he said of the corporate money proposal. “But this is something that is going to require a lot of discussion. And both Democratic conferences, in the Senate and the Assembly, have to listen to the concerns of each of their members.”
Mr. Cuomo, who has been a vocal supporter of election reform — he has repeatedly included measures such as public financing and closing the L.L.C. loophole in his executive budgets — has also reaped the benefits of its failure, raising tens of millions of dollars for his formidable war chest in part by taking advantage of the loophole.Mr. Cuomo, who has been a vocal supporter of election reform — he has repeatedly included measures such as public financing and closing the L.L.C. loophole in his executive budgets — has also reaped the benefits of its failure, raising tens of millions of dollars for his formidable war chest in part by taking advantage of the loophole.
There may be administrative tangles as well. Two popular proposed reforms — Election Day voter registration and mail-in voting — would require a constitutional amendment, which would have to be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and then ratified by voters, Ms. Weiser said. Rolling out early voting and automatic voter registration, while they could become law immediately, would require money and infrastructure.There may be administrative tangles as well. Two popular proposed reforms — Election Day voter registration and mail-in voting — would require a constitutional amendment, which would have to be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and then ratified by voters, Ms. Weiser said. Rolling out early voting and automatic voter registration, while they could become law immediately, would require money and infrastructure.
But Ms. Weiser added that studies have indicated that automatic registration would pay for itself within one or two election cycles, and that early voting would provide immeasurable convenience, allowing officials to avert the kind of Election Day snafus that paralyzed much of New York City this year.But Ms. Weiser added that studies have indicated that automatic registration would pay for itself within one or two election cycles, and that early voting would provide immeasurable convenience, allowing officials to avert the kind of Election Day snafus that paralyzed much of New York City this year.
Still, advocates acknowledged that legislators’ whims were unpredictable, and that the political obstacles could loom far larger than the logistical ones. But they also said that the visibility of many officials’ prior statements would make it politically dangerous for them to backtrack.Still, advocates acknowledged that legislators’ whims were unpredictable, and that the political obstacles could loom far larger than the logistical ones. But they also said that the visibility of many officials’ prior statements would make it politically dangerous for them to backtrack.
“Nothing is 100 percent guaranteed in Albany,” said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, a government reform group. But she added: “I think it would be very very difficult for people who were elected on the promise that they were going to heed the voice of the voter, to then turn around and just have it be old-fashioned Albany business as usual.”“Nothing is 100 percent guaranteed in Albany,” said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, a government reform group. But she added: “I think it would be very very difficult for people who were elected on the promise that they were going to heed the voice of the voter, to then turn around and just have it be old-fashioned Albany business as usual.”
Of course, that is the argument of many other advocates, on many other issues, all of whom are counting on the newly remade government to unleash their own long-stymied legislation. And Albany has disappointed many a lobbyist and activist before.Of course, that is the argument of many other advocates, on many other issues, all of whom are counting on the newly remade government to unleash their own long-stymied legislation. And Albany has disappointed many a lobbyist and activist before.
But Ms. Weiser suggested that the dashing of these hopes — so long-held and in many ways so common-sense — would have special resonance.But Ms. Weiser suggested that the dashing of these hopes — so long-held and in many ways so common-sense — would have special resonance.
“I do think it would be a travesty if New York is unable to get this done,” she said. “Not just a missed opportunity, but I think it would be a setback, at a point when the public is so clearly demanding it.”“I do think it would be a travesty if New York is unable to get this done,” she said. “Not just a missed opportunity, but I think it would be a setback, at a point when the public is so clearly demanding it.”