Sally Robinson, VP for Issues and Advocacy, Sally.s.robinson@gmail.com
Erica Smitka, Deputy Director, Erica@lwvny.org
Election Protection Education
As we near the mid-term elections, an increasing number of conversations have focused on election security and ensuring that NYS is holding fair and reliable elections. This week, the state League has launched an education campaign in which we provide local Leagues and members with materials that detail how NYS runs secure, reliable, and fair elections. These materials can be used as talking points with other voters and we encourage you to help educate your neighbors on the secure election system.
Click here for a one page Election Security flyer
Click here for Election Processing in NYS flyer
NYS Supreme Court Decision on Absentee Ballots
As some of you may have read, on Friday October 21 a New York state trial judge issued a ruling in Amedure v. New York a lawsuit challenging aspects of absentee voting laws in New York. The ruling does NOT in any manner impact the ability of a voter to obtain or cast an absentee ballot. The only impact is on one aspect of the absentee ballot counting and challenges law and the decision is being appealed. You can read the full decision here: https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-10-21-140-Decision-and-Order43.pdf
PowHer Summit
The state League along with a number of local league members and organizations from across the state took part in the PowHer Summit on October 13th. After the Summit, the state League hosted a PowHer Talk in which we focused on the role of the League in ensuring women’s equity in NYS. One of the ways in which we will do this is with a focus on the second passage of the New York State Equal Rights Amendment in this legislative session.
Automatic Voter Registration and Online Voter Registration
The state League has been meeting with the State Board of Elections along with the Brennan Center, Citizens Union, Common Cause, NALEO, Brooklyn Voters Alliance and other good government groups to discuss the planned implementation of automatic voter registration and online voter registration in New York State. We have been meeting with the state Board to discuss the timeline for implementation, how to test the system, and to ensuring the board has feedback from our organizations as it relates to the needs of voters.
