Early Voting Finally Passes In NY, Along With Other Reforms

NEW YORK — New York could soon join more than three dozen other states in allowing voters to cast ballots early. Both houses of the state Legislature passed a bill Monday that would establish a nine-day early voting period before any primary, general or special election.

If Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs it into law, New York would become the 39th state to adopt some form of early voting. It's among seven election reforms that state lawmakers approved in the first week of Democratic control in the state Senate and Assembly.

"Government should be about breaking down barriers, which is why the Senate Democratic Majority is making it easier for those who are eligible to vote," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. "We need more voices in our democracy, not fewer."

The early voting bill would start early polling on the tenth day before an election and close it on the second day before the election, ensuring voters have two full weekends in which to cast ballots, according to lawmakers. This year's general election would be the first to have early voting if the bill becomes law.

The package of bills also includes measures to make registering to vote easier; consolidate New York's state and federal primary elections, which are currently about three months apart; and limit political donations from limited-liability companies and their owners.

Democrats named such reforms among their many legislative priorities after they took control of the state Senate from Republicans in November's elections. They became especially relevant after New York City voters experienced chaos at the polls on Election Day.

Cuomo, also a Democrat, expressed support for the bills on Monday but did not explictly say whether he would sign them.

He said he would put several other reforms in his state budget proposal on Tuesday, including a ban on corporate contributions; automatic and online voter registration; making Election Day a holiday; and expanding voting hours upstate, where polls currently cannot open before noon.

"These proposals will not only modernize our voting laws, they will remove barriers that have prevented and discouraged voters from exercising their sacred right to vote," Cuomo said in a statement.

Here's a closer look at the reforms lawmakers passed Monday and what they mean for New Yorkers.

Early Voting

Voters could cast their first early ballots ahead of this year's Nov. 5 general election if Cuomo signs this measure, sponsored by Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Long Island) and Sen. Zellor Myrie (D-Brooklyn).

The bill would establish a nine-day early voting period that includes two full weekends. Many other states, though, start early voting at least two weeks before an election.

The legislation would give counties flexibility in determining when they allow ballots to be cast but require them to offer a certain number of eary voting hours, according to a news release.

Consolidating Primaries

New Yorkers currently pick their party's nominees for federal offices in June but must wait until September for state primaries. Both contests would be held on the last Tuesday in June under a bill sponsored by Lavine and Stewart-Cousins.

The bill would take effect immediately if Cuomo signs it, indicating this year's primary for Queens district attorney would take place much sooner than previously thought.

Expanding Absentee Voting

Another bill would allow for no-excuse absentee voting by amending the state constitution. Voters could ask to cast their ballot by mail without having to give a reason if it's ultimately approved, lawmakers say.

Because it involves a constitutional amendment, the Legislature will have to pass the bill again after the 2020 elections and voters will have to approve it if it is to take effect. The measure would go to voters no earlier than November 2021, according to lawmakers.

Easier Voter Registration

Three of the bills would make it easier for New Yorkers to register to vote. One would allow voters to register on the day of an election and do away with the requirement that they register at least 10 days in advance. This measure would also be a constitutional amendment, meaning voters won't get to decide its fate until at least 2021.

Another bill would automatically transfer a voter's registration when they move to a different part of the state. The current law requires voters to update their registration whenever they move to a different county or out of New York City, lawmakers say.

A third measure would let 16- and 17-year-olds "pre-register" to vote so that they're automatically registered when they turn 18. At least 13 states currently allow pre-registration, according to a memo attached to the bill. The legislation would take effect in January 2020 if it becomes law this year.

Tightening The LLC Loophole

Current state law allows a single individual to make several donations to a political campaign through multiple limited liability companies, or LLCs. Advocates have argued so-called LLC loophole lets wealthy donors funnel virtually unlimited funds to candidates for public office.

A bill passed Monday would apply the current $5,000 limit on corporate campaign donations to LLCs. It would also require that an LLC's owners be disclosed so contributions can be attributed to them in proportion with their stake in the company.

(Lead image: A woman exits a polling station on Sept. 13, 2018 in Brooklyn. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)