Cuomo signs Queens senator’s automatic
voter registration legislation into law
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.16 COM | JAN. 1-JAN. 7, 2021
New York typically
ranks as one of the states
with the lowest voter
turnout in the country.
In the 2018 midterms,
New York ranked 48th in
the U.S. with a 40 percent
voter turnout — a significant
increase from
previous elections.
In response, the state
passed a series of election
reforms in 2019, including
allowing eight days
of early voting before an
election and synchronized
federal and state
primary elections.
Brooklyn Assembly
member Latrice Walker,
a co-sponsor of the bill,
said the law positions the
state “on the right side of
democracy.”
“I am proud to be the
prime sponsor of this
monumental election
reform bill. The right to
vote is fundamental in a
democracy such as ours
and has been under attack
for over one hundred
and fifty years,”
said Walker. “The Automatic
Voter Registration
(AVR) bill puts New York
state on the right side of
democracy and history
by acknowledging years
of voter suppression
and making the process
to register to vote easy,
and accessible to New
Yorkers. I along with the
other members of the legislature
will continue to
fight for the fundamental
rights that keep our
democracy alive. Voting
should be easy, efficient
and accessible.”
New York joins 18
other states and Washington,
D.C., that have
made voting more accessible
in some way. Oregon
was one of the first
states to implement automatic
voter registration,
and saw one of the
highest turnout rates in
the 2016 election.
Advocates applauded
the legislation as another
way to reach a more
diverse set of voters.
“We are seeing so
many flaws in the fabric
of our democracy.
Constant attacks on
our electoral system
disproportionately impact
youth and people
of color,” said Plus1Vote
co-founder Saad Amer.
“Automatic voter registration
will enfranchise
thousands and remove
unnecessary huddles to
participating in our democracy.
I am glad this
legislation is finally
enacted after years of
effort by so many, and I
appreciate Senator Gianaris
his unwavering
determination on this
issue.”
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
The New York Automatic
Voter Registration
Act, a law that would
make it easier to vote in
the state that was introduced
by Queens Senate
Deputy Leader Michael
Gianaris in the legislative
body, was signed into
law on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The legislation will
automatically register
New Yorkers who are
eligible to vote upon interactions
with various
state and local agencies.
“At a time in our
country when voting
rights are under assault,
New York is living up to
our potential as a progressive
leader,” said
Gianaris. “Access to the
ballot box should be easy
and fair, and enacting
Automatic Voter Registration
will go a long way
towards improving voter
participation. I am proud
and thankful that the
governor has signed this
bill, paving the way for
over a million more New
Yorkers to vote.”
State Senator Michael Gianaris
Courtesy of Gianaris’ offi ce
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