All New York Voters May Now Vote-by-Mail November

All New Yorkers will be able to, Vote-by-Mail in November, if they want. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) Signed Legislation, Thursday August 20th, Permitting Voters to point to the Coronavirus Pandemic as a Reason for seeking an Absentee Ballot.

The Fourth most Populous State normally Requires People to Choose from a Narrow Set of Impediments to getting to a Polling Place, such as being Sick or Out-of-Town. It now Joins Nine States that have simply Suspended those Rules for the year, or, as in New York's case, Expanded the Definition of "Illness" to Cover Concern about Voting-in-Person due to Covid-19.

That leaves only Six States, all of them Republican, that are still keeping their Tight Excuse Rules for the Presidential Election: Indiana; Louisiana; Mississippi; South Carolina; Tennessee; and Texas.

Like a Majority of States, New York has made Accommodations in Order to Promote Robust Electoral Democracy this Fall, no matter the Status of the Public Health Crisis. Six have Switched to a mostly Vote-by-Mail Election, most notably, while a Handful of Others have decided to Send Ballot Applications to All Active Voters. What happens to Inactive voters?

The New Law, which Cuomo's Democratic Allies in Control of the Legislature Passed last Month, makes a Change similar to what was Done for the June 23rd Primary, although that was Accomplished by Executive Order.

And, unlike the Primary, when All Voters were Mailed a Request Form for an Absentee Ballot, they will have to Contact the Board of Elections in Order to get a Ballot this time.

This may Tamp-Down the Surge of Mail-In Votes across the State this Summer, which Led to Tabulation Delays and Disputes, that Prevented Results in some Close Races from being announced for Several Weeks.

Lawmakers in Albany have already Voted once to Amend the State Constitution so New York can join 34 other States in Allowing No-Excuse Absentee Voting in every Election. But that won't happen before 2022, and only If the Legislature Reaffirms its Initial Vote in 2021.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker