One Brooklyn
April 8, 2016
BROOKLYN, NY, April 8, 2016: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and members of the Vote Better NY campaign rallied state lawmakers in urging support for critical reforms to modernize New York’s outdated elections. They made the call as the nation’s political focus has zeroed in on Brooklyn, with the borough hosting a major presidential debate next week in addition to the greater state holding a primary election — with potentially historic consequences — just five days later. Borough President Adams and members of NYC Votes/Campaign Finance Board (CFB) were joined by State Senator Jesse Hamilton and Velmanette Montgomery, Assembly Members Rodneyse Bichotte, Steven Cymbrowitz, Joseph Lentol, Felix Ortiz, Jo Anne Simon, and Latrice Walker, as well as representatives from Generation Citizen, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), and South Asian Fund for Education Scholarship Training, in asking the New York State Legislature to pass pro-voter measures such as better ballot design, early voting, and an upgraded voter registration system.
“As the eyes of our nation turn to Brooklyn and the rest of our state, we must ensure our voices are heard at the ballot box and that the long-standing barriers to voting are torn down in the name of empowering our democracy,” said Borough President Adams. “New York’s voter turnout rates are shameful, and the participation in our borough has been a key part of that problem. We can and must do better, and part of the blame lies with our antiquated system of voting and voter registration. We have entered the iPhone age, but our elections process is comparatively stuck in the eight-track era. I urge my former colleagues in the New York State Legislature to show leadership on this issue and support the Vote Better NY campaign.”
“What the country will see in New York over the next 10 days is a voting system that makes it harder for voters to participate, not easier,” said Onida Coward-Mayers, director of the Voter Assistance Unit for CFB. “New Yorkers need to stand up and demand change. Nearly two million voting age citizens in our state are not registered to vote and New York consistently falls to the bottom in voter turnout. In 2014, just 20 percent of voting age citizens voted — good for 46th in the nation. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can bring New Yorkers back to the polls by making voting and engagement easier and more efficient. The Vote Better NY campaign for reform is proud to be on the forefront of those efforts for change.”
Vote Better NY is focused on the passage of three key pieces of legislation. Early voting (A8582A/S3813B) would establish a two-week voting period, including Saturdays and Sundays, to ease long lines on Election Day and give voters flexibility as they balance family and work obligations. The Voter Empowerment Act (A5972/S2583A) would help ensure every eligible citizen is registered to vote and make it easier to update their voting information; features of the bill include an expansion of online registration, the ability for 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register so their registrations become active when they turn 18 years of age, as well as the capacity for government agencies who interact with voters to automatically register them with the Board of Elections unless a voter chooses to opt out. Finally, the Voter Friendly Ballot Act (A3389) would create a ballot that is easier to read and understand, addressing font size and layout concerns.
“Americans have fought and died for the right to vote,” said State Senator Hamilton. “Yet today, New York’s voter participation is embarrassingly low. There are simple solutions to increase voter participation, and new technology provides enticing opportunities to pursue this goal. Failure to make changes is a threat to our democratic system. As an elected official, I consider it my duty to make our democracy stronger. I urge everyone to support Vote Better NY.”
“Voting is more than a privilege…it is self-determination,” said State Senator Montgomery. “When we vote, we control our destiny and shape our lives. When we don’t, we throw it away. Get out and vote!”
“I am dedicated to making sure we pass comprehensive voter rights legislation,” said Assembly Member Bichotte. “It took 200 years for us to get our voting rights and it’ll take an eternity to protect it.”
“Increasing voter participation, expanding access, and removing barriers that often prevent New Yorkers from participating in elections should be the goal of every elected official,” said Assembly Member Cymbrowitz. “I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that every voice is heard, every vote is counted, and every citizen has an equal opportunity to participate in our government.”
“New York has some of the most complicated election laws in the nation, making it harder and harder for people to vote and participate in our democratic process,” said Assembly Member Ortiz. “We need to reform our election system, allowing people to vote without intimidation and bureaucratic red tape. Voter registration must be made as easy as possible along with a simpler absentee ballot process. And we must eliminate the LLC loophole permitting special interest groups to funnel tens of millions of dollars into political campaigns.”
“In 2014, New York ranked 46th out of 50 states, and Brooklyn’s turnout was just 20 percent of registered voters,” said Assembly Member Simon. “Our voices are heard when we vote. New Yorkers work hard, but too many of them have to work long hours and are not able to get to the polls after work. Voting should be easy. We need to allow online voter registration, automatically register 17-year-olds, permit early voting, and make sure the ballots themselves are legible. I applaud Borough President Adams for focusing our attention on this fundamental American right.”
“It’s clear that New York’s outdated election laws contribute to our miserable voter participation rates — ranking us among the bottom five states in the nation year after year,” said Megan Ahearn, program director for NYPIRG. “The Vote Better NY campaign stands for the reforms that remove barriers to voting and support civic participation. It’s time for New York to modernize our elections to better serve our citizens.”
“We know from our work with young people throughout the City that many of them are eager to have their voices heard when it comes to public policy debates and who is going to represent them in government,” said David Pechefsky, New York City site director for Generation Citizen. “The common sense reforms called for by the Vote Better NY coalition will lower some of the barriers that keep young people from engaging in civic life through voting.”
New Yorkers can follow the Vote Better NY campaign’s progress by following them on Twitter and Facebook. Additionally, they can add their voices to the reform movement by signing the petition on Change.org and using the #VoteBetterNY hashtag.
PHOTOS
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams rallied with members of the Vote Better NY campaign as well as state lawmakers such as Assembly Members Jo Anne Simon (3rd from left) and Latrice Walker (center) in urging support for critical reforms to modernize New York’s outdated elections.
-30-
