NY Independent Redistricting Amendment 2012, Ballot Initiative 2014

Common Cause/NY, along with NYPIRG and Effective New York, awarded the Salvador Dali prize for most artistically drawn legislative district to the Splattered Bug of the Bronx, Senate District 34.



Reformers have long argued that the method by which the state draws legislative districts is undemocratic and in need of reform.

It is well known that an important factor in maintaining New York State’s political culture is the practice of allowing the majorities in both houses , the State Assembly and the State Senate, to draw their own district lines every ten years.  In effect, this practice allows legislators to choose their voters, rather than the other way around.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo agreed to the lines drawn by the majorities in 2012.  As part of the 2012 agreement, the governor and the state’s legislative leaders also negotiated constitutional changes to the state’s redistricting process and that proposal will go to voters this November.

The New York Independent Redistricting Amendment is a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment.  The measure, upon voter approval, would create an independent redistricting commission to establish state senate, assembly and congressional districts.  The amendment would amend Sections 4 and 5 of the New York Constitution.

Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner argued, “The proposed constitutional amendment sets up a hyper-partisan, expensive and ineffective structure for redistricting.  Ultimately this is not an independent process, and the voters lose.”

In a report released this past Monday, the three groups called on voters to reject the fatally flawed redistricting proposal which will be on the ballot this November.

CLICK HERE to read the report.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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NYC Nov. Election Improper Poll Worker Conduct

As co-facilitators of the NY Voters Coalition, Common Cause/NY and NYPIRG provide assistance to voters on election days, jointly running the Voter Helpline in New York City for over 20 years.  On November 5th, 2013 the good government groups received reports of alarming conduct at five polling places in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn which, potentially constitute civil rights violations.

In each instance a poll worker instructed voters to vote only for candidates for a particular party.  When challenged, the poll workers reportedly stated that they were trained to tell voters that they must vote only for candidates from the same party.  Despite the fact that the complainants all appear to be independent of one another and that the complaints alleged misconduct in three different boroughs, the allegations are virtually identical.  In one location, voluntary poll monitors, including a Common Cause/NY staff member, received confirmation from the poll worker that she had been told to so instruct voters.

They received these complaints in person, on their Voter Hotline and online via PollWatchUSA.  All reports have been verified and are believed to be credible.

Joining with their Voter Hotline partners, NYPIRG, a joint letter was sent to the New York City Board of Elections and relevant law enforcement agencies detailing the nature of each complaint and violations of law.

"Competitive and free elections are essential to our democracy, and these disturbing reports directly undermine those principles.  Voters can not trust the election process if election administration is so flagrantly flawed.  We are calling on the BOE to zealously investigate these allegations and correct the problem immediately," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.

"The reported behavior of these poll workers from sites across the city is deeply troubling.  An investigation into whether these allegations were a failure of training, were outright illegal acts, were isolated or were caused in some other way needs to be determined, and the cause released to the public," said Neal Rosenstein, Government Reform Coordinator for NYPIRG.  "Public confidence in the conduct of elections is vital to both voter participation and trust in our elected system," he added.

CLICK HERE to read the letter.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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