Fighting for Automatic Voter Registration
At the beginning of December 2020, S8806/A8280C which would bring Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) to New York, was Delivered to Governor Cuomo (D) and is currently awaiting his Signature. AVR would allow New Yorkers to Automatically Register to Vote whenever they Interact with a Qualified Government Agency such as the DMV or Department of Health. The Legislation Passed the Legislature Earlier this year.
2021 State Legislative Priorities
Common Cause NY, is prepared to Lead the way in Protecting our Democracy and Champion Pro-Voter Reforms: Strengthening Early Voting; making Absentee Voting Easier for All Voters; and Endorsing a Fair Redistricting Process.
NYC Voters: Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) in 2021
A Manhattan State Supreme Court Judge Refused to Halt the Rollout of Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) in New York City, a Major Victory for Advocates of the New System of Voting that is set to be part of City Elections starting in 2021.
Military and Overseas Ballots went out, Friday Dec. 18th, for a Feb. 2nd, City Council Special Election, for the 24th District in Queens with RCV. RCV will start for All New Yorkers in the June Primary.
Common Cause NY Executive Director, Susan Lerner, testified in Support of RCV Implementation during the City Council’s Committee on Governmental Operations hearing on RCV. Common Cause NY urged Lawmakers to pass Int 1994-2020, which would Allocate Funding to the Campaign Finance Board and City Agencies to conduct Voter Outreach and Education on RCV.
Educating voters: On December 9th: the Brooklyn Library; Rank the Vote NYC; Common Cause NY; Brooklyn Young Democrats; and the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, hosted a Forum on RCV and the Race for Brooklyn Borough President. The Event was Moderated by Lurie Daniel Favors, Interim Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Justice. Eight Candidates participated, including: Councilmembers Antonio Reynoso; Robert Cornegy; Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon; Kim Council; Pearlene Fields; Khari Edwards; and Robert Ramos Jr.
On December 3rd, Assembly Members Nily Rozic (D-25th District) and Daniel Rosenthal (D-27th District) hosted a RCV Seminar. Speakers from Rank the Vote NYC and Common Cause NY outlined Exciting Changes coming to NYC Elections in 2021.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
