New Yorkers face Threats to Democracy driven by a Widespread Problem with an Electoral System with a History of Systematic Failures. Those are the findings of a 46-page Report, to be released by the State Senate Elections Committee on Monday, which proposes a series of Reforms that include Overhauling the New York City Board of Elections (NYCBOE).
“New Yorkers are fed up with the dysfunction,” said State Senator Zellnor Myrie (D-20th District, Brooklyn), and Chairs the Elections Committee. He said the Report is meant to serve as a Foundation for Public Discourse and Legislative Action. “This is a five-alarm fire for every voter in the state,” he said.
The Recommendation to Restructure the NYCBOE involves Reducing the Number of Commissioners from 10 and Removing the Role of each Borough's Democratic and Republican Party Bosses, who currently Select the Commissioners for the Agency. That follows a similar Recommendation, made by the Brennan Center for Justice, earlier this year in their Report on the Systemic Flaws in New York City’s current Electoral System.
The Report could serve as a Course Correction, coming on the heels of the Unexpected Defeat of Ballot Measures intended to Expand Voting Rights: which would allow for Same-Day Voter Registration and No-Excuse Absentee Ballots, after a well-funded Campaign by New York’s Conservative and Republican Parties.
It also comes ahead of a Retreat next month, among State Senate Democrats, where they are expected to build their Legislative Agenda for next year, which in Past years has made Election Reform a Day-One Priority.
The Case for Revamping the State’s Election System is built on a Long List of recent Election Snafus: from Voters improperly Removed from the Rolls, Scanner Breakdowns, an Insufficient Number of Language Interpreters, Misprinted Absentee Ballots, and hours-long Lines to Vote. The last straw for Senate Democrats was when New York City Elections Officials released Faulty Primary Election Data earlier this year, with more than 130,000 Test Votes skewing the First set of Ranked-Choice Tallies.
“The situation in New York City is a national embarrassment and must be dealt with promptly and properly,” Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35th District), said in June, while announcing that the State Senate would hold Hearings, “and will seek to pass reform legislation as a result at the earliest opportunity.”
New York is the only State in the Nation that gives Political Party Leaders an Explicit and Exclusive Role in the Process of Selecting Elections Officials, the Report notes, citing Research from Political Scientist Ronald Hayduk, a Professor at Queens College.
That Requirement System makes the Agency Administering Elections both inherently Political and Unaccountable to Voters, the Report argues. Currently, the only way to Remove a Commissioner, for Cause, is for the Governor to Intervene, something the State Elections Officials acknowledge has Never been done before.
The Report also urges more Transparent and Professional Standards when it comes to Hiring Staff at Senior Levels for the NYCBOE, with Appointments made by, “some combination of the Mayor, City Council and Public Advocate,” with their Removal subject to the same Combination. It also urges Lawmakers to Strike the Statute that Requires Bipartisan Hiring for All Boards.
Other Recommendations include Strengthening the Oversight Role of the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE), creating Minimum Standards for Commissioners who would also be Required to attend Regular Training and could be Removed by either the NYSBOE or Local Government Officials. There are also a host of Proposals to Improve the Quality of Poll Workers, and the Experience of Voters.
Altogether, the Report Proposes to continue Advancing the Conversation about Voting Rights in New York, as a Buttress against the Assault on Democracy taking place elsewhere.
“There is a slow burn insurrection happening across the country,” said Myrie, pointing to the Recent Defeat of what he called “common sense” Ballot Initiatives in New York, by a Campaign that stoked Unfounded Claims of Voter Fraud. He said that should serve as a Wake-Up Call to Democrats that support Expanding Voting Rights, about what can happen if they sit idly by while their Opponents, Invest more to Defeat them.
“Any Democrat that is not in a state of introspection,” said Myrie, “really needs to decide whether or not this is the party for them.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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