Editorial: New York to begin early voting as way to increase participation

by The Suffolk Times | February 18, 2018  

 

In this space last July, we commended an executive order signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to expand voter registration opportunities in New York. The executive order directed every state agency to make voter registration forms available and offer assistance in filling them out. The order also established a new voter registration task force.

“It is our responsibility to make it as easy as possible for people to vote because that’s what democracy looks like,” Mr. Cuomo said at the time.

Voter advocates quickly pushed back, arguing that Mr. Cuomo’s move was merely window dressing and ignored a larger problem.

Jacques David, an attorney for The Legal Aid Society and member of the Brooklyn Voters Alliance, pointed out in a letter to The Suffolk Times last summer that New York ranks 41st out of 50 states in voter participation. New York is also not among the 37 states that offer early voting — and therein, according to Mr. David, lies a key problem.

Read More Here.

Published by

bkvoters

Brooklyn Voters Alliance (“BVA”) is an all-volunteer, non-partisan organization that works to protect and expand voting rights in New York State. We believe democracy is strongest when everyone has a voice. We promote voter participation, education, and civic engagement to ensure fairness and equal access to our fundamental right to vote.

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