STATEMENT ON NY LEGISLATURE MOVING MANY LOCAL ELECTIONS TO EVEN YEARS

Yesterday the New York State Legislature passed a bill that would move many local elections from odd years to even year elections. The Democratic Caucus of Elections Commissioners looked at this bill and we decided not to support and remain neutral. We had concerns that we gave to legislative leaders. Some of these concerns were addressed with the current version of this bill while other concerns still are yet to be resolved.

The New York State Legislature has the right to pass this bill and it will be the job of Elections Commissioners to follow the law and help enact this bill along with all other laws passed by the legislature. This bill in effect will have no effect on elections until 2026. We have time to meet the technological and logistical demands this will have on our offices. The legislature also has more time to address the issue of staffing and commissioner terms and employment status that were not addressed by the Assembly this session (though all were passed by the Senate).

I find the rhetoric from GOP elected officials both locally and throughout NY State to be over the top and hypocritical. The same politicians have blocked Early Voting, engaged in gerrymandering their counties, throttled Board of Election budgets, attacked vote by mail during the pandemic, as well as opposed every attempt to modernize our election system. They have routinely come down on the side of less voters having input on their government. That is their true motivation despite their rhetoric.

The alleged cost savings of this bill is not something I agree with. In most areas of New York State, we will still have elections every year. No matter the number of candidates on the ballot election inspectors, and polling places will need to be staffed. Voter registration updates will have to continue year-round. However, it is undeniably true that turnout is higher in eve. ears where voter turnout is routinely 50-70% where turnout in odd years throughout new York State is 30-40%. More citizens voting on their representation is objectively healthy for our government.

The most crucial point to make on this legislation is that it gives us time to resolve the technological issues, educate the public, and prepare. I am confident not only in the elections commissioners ability to manage these issues but the ability of the public to understand this change and make individual decisions with their ballot. It will be the driving challenge as we adjust to these changes over the next 7 years, but it is accomplishable, and New York will rise to this occasion as we have every election reform given to us since 2019.