GSN_Mar_YUMPU

New York Democrats rally to resist voter suppression,
calling for action from NY Governor Cuomo
NEW YORK, NY, 03/19/2017 (read-
Media)—With backing from Common
Cause, New York City elected
officials, unions and grassroots organizations
rallied at Battery Park to
resist voter suppression, calling on
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the
State Legislature to modernize our
elections by funding Early Voting
and Automatic Voter Registration
in the state budget, due April 1st.
Enacting Early Voting would allow
New Yorkers to cast their ballot
at polling locations before the
traditional Election Day. 34 states
already have some form of Early
Voting, leaving New York as one of
only 16 states without any means to
vote early except via absentee ballot.
New York does not have any
form of Automatic Voter Registration
either. Automatically registering
eligible voters encourages civic
participation, and provides a vehicle
for state agencies to efficiently transfer
voter registration information to
the Board of Elections. Outdated
elections is in part why only 29 percent
of the state’s eligible population
voted in 2014, putting New York in
the bottom third nationally.
The rally was co-sponsored by
Common Cause New York, SEIU
32BJ, NY Immigration Coalition,
NYCLU, NY Civic Engagement
Table, TWU 100, Hispanic Federation,
2 hours A Week, Public Citizen,
Citizen Action New York, Citizens
Union, NYC Votes, New York
Working Families, DuBois Bunche
Center For Public Policy, Hugh L.
Carey Institute, NYPIRG, Community
Voices Heard, Women’s City
Club, Make the Road NY, NCAACP
Brooklyn Chapter, Daily
Kos, VOCAL, and the NY
Progressive Action Network.
Featured speakers including
Congressmembers
Jerry Nadler, NYC Comptroller
Scott Stringer, and
Manhattan Borough President
Gale Brewer spoke
about the importance of
modernizing our elections especially
in response to national efforts to
strip voting rights.
“New York has been a bastion of
democracy, and leader of progressive
activism during these difficult
times facing our country,” said Congressman
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).
“But unfortunately, our state has
not been a leader when it comes to
modernizing our voting systems. It
31
Congressman
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
is time to simplify our voting process
and increase voter accessibility,
by adding early voting, automatic
and same-day voter registration,
consolidated primaries and shortened
party registration deadlines.”
“At a time when we need to boost
voter participation, we should make
it easier, not harder, to vote,” said
New York City Comptroller Scott
Stringer. “This is critical to ensuring
accountable and effective
government. New
York’s antiquated voting
laws already lag behind
most of the country. From
early voting to same day
registration, we need to
implement smart reforms
that expand the franchise
and make our democracy
more inclusive. That’s why
we have to speak out against the
President’s fraudulent claims of illegal
voting and resist new barriers
to the ballot.”
“Now is the time for New York
to be an example,” said Manhattan
Borough President Gale A. Brewer.
“Modern voting laws will help
more people vote at a time of renewed
civic participation, and they
will save taxpayers time, money, and