The Independent View: NY Now Has to Fund Passed Voting Reforms

On January 14th, the New York State Legislature made their Mark on New York Voting History. After over 100 years without meaningful Voting Reform, Six Bills was past that will Significantly Increase Voter Access to the Polls and the reach of their Voices.

On January 25th, Gov. Andrew Cuomo Codified this Historic Expansion and Signed those Bills into Law. Important Legislative Priorities such as: Early Voting, Pre-Registration of 16- and 17-year-olds, Registration Portability, and the Consolidation of State and Federal Primaries in June are now State Law.

Legislators also took a Significant Step toward Changing our Constitution, to allow for Same-Day Registration and No-Excuse Absentee Voting by Mail. This will take Two Legislature Sessions and the Voters to pass Ballot Referendums, to make these Law effective in 2023.

It is important to note amidst the Celebration of Grassroots and Advocacy Groups who have been Fighting for these Reforms is not complete. Transformative Reforms such as: Automatic Voter Registration, the Restoration of the Voting Rights for People on Parole, Establishing a Universal Right to Vote, and Shortening the Deadline to Change Party Affiliation were starkly Absent from the Legislation Passed. Many of these Common Sense Reforms are Long Overdue.

Our Elected Representatives have received well-deserved Praise for taking Decisive Action in the Process of bringing New York’s Voting Laws into the 21st Century by Prioritizing and Passing Legislation that was stymied for far too long. However, not only is there more to do, but New York is once again faced with the Unfortunate and Unnecessary Lack of Transparency that has become Synonymous with State Government in Albany.

Voting Reform has the exciting potential to bring more People into the Democratic Process. But New York will not be a Leader in Democracy until the Process of Governing embodies Openness, Accountability, and Greater Participation.

As the Chief Executive of New York State, and the Keeper of the State Budget, Gov. Cuomo is now Tasked with Implementation and ensuring New Reforms are appropriately Funded. It is concerning that his Proposed Executive Budget lacks specific Funding allocated for Early Voting. Just last year, Cuomo, in the face of Intransigence and Hostility in the State Senate, allocated $7 Million for Early Voting in the Executive Budget. When this year provided with Passed Legislation to Sign and Implement, why would the Governor not Designate Funding specifically for Early Voting in his Budget?

Cuomo states that the Cost of Early Voting will be Covered by the Consolidation of the Federal and State Primaries combined with the New Sales Tax Revenue to be Collected from the Elimination of the Internet Tax Advantage, now that All Internet Sales from New York Sellers are Taxable.

Neither of these New Revenue Streams will be available to County Boards of Elections in time to Fund Early Voting in 2019. It is puzzling why now, at this Historic moment, the Governor would withhold Designated Funding for a Reform he Supports and for which he allocated Money only a year ago.

During his “First 100 Days” Speech given in December, Cuomo criticized the Federal Government's attempts to Disenfranchise Voters, and stated that "we have to do the exact opposite and improve our democracy.”

The Reality is that to Improve our Democracy after over a Century of Inaction, it is going to take Money. And to Prove a Commitment to the Reforms being Passed by the Legislature, the same Reforms he himself has called for throughout his Tenure, the Governor must Commit Real Dollars for Implementation this year.

The Governor and the Leadership of the Assembly and Senate must stand true to their Promises and ensure these Reforms are Appropriately Implemented and adequately Funded. Now is the time for Clear, Decisive Action. It is not the time for Unfunded Promises, Backroom Deals, or Excuses. Do not give us Reform in Name Only. There must be a Line Item in the Budget to Specifically and Sufficiently Fund Early Voting.

All Interested Parties should Work Together to make sure the Counties are Provided with Funding and Support so that they are Prepared for these Changes and Voters can take Advantage of them Seamlessly.

Voting Reform Advocates Statewide will continue to Fight so that We the People can Access our Most Fundamental Right to Vote. We believe in our Elected Representatives and we know they can get this done.

In the last New York City Board of Elections Meeting, they were trying to Develop their Plans to Implement Electronic Poll Books without knowing Were or How Much they will Receive from the State. They have to determine which Vendor to use, Create the Request for Quote (RFQ), Testing Plans, Develop Training, and their Implementation Plan.