The Independent View: My NY State Senator's Legislature Election Bills

My New York State Senator, Liz Krueger (D-28th District), sponsor or cosponsor bills to reform our election process.

We need laws and procedures that encourage, rather than discourage voting. The Suffolk County Board of Elections recently announced that it would start allowing Online Voter Registration, something that the Attorney General has indicated could be done statewide under existing law.

I am hopeful that the recent election problems will give some momentum to a number of her bills that could reform our election process.

Among these proposals are:

- The Voter Empowerment Act (A5972/S2538): This bill would allow for Online updating of registration; allow people to register or change their party up to 10 days before an election; and permit pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, among other reforms. A number of the provisions of this bill have also been introduced separately in standalone bills.

- Same-Day registration: In New York, allowing same day registration requires both a Constitutional amendment (A5891/S2391) and enacting legislation (A5947/S2483).

- Early voting: This would allow eligible voters to cast their ballots before Election Day. A8582/S3813 would establish a 12-day early voting period ending the Sunday before Election Day.

- Vote by Mail: Legislation (S2739) to authorize a study of the feasibility of voting by mail and allow for a pilot program.

Like the ethics issues that continue to arise in Albany and elsewhere, the chaos that occurred both during this Primary election and the 2012 General election only undermine people’s faith in the value of political participation and in the legitimacy of our democracy.

Just as it is critical that the Legislature act on ethics reform in the wake of Albany scandals, it is also critical that we reform the way we conduct elections.

Doing so will require both Legislative action to encourage participation through a more open electoral process as well as audits and investigations of the practices of the Board of Elections to identify those who for reasons of malfeasance or incompetence are not capable of doing their jobs.