12 FEBRUARY 1, 2018 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
EDITORIAL
Let’s end voter apathy in Queens
It may only be February, but elections
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STORY:
Beloved Queens chain Mama’s
Empanadas is bringing its unique
hand pies to Bayside
SUMMARY:
Mama’s Empanadas will open up a
brand-new location in the Bayside
Hills section of the neighborhood at
61-09 Springfi eld Blvd.
REACH:
19,118 people (as of 1/29/18)
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this year are seemingly on
everyone’s mind.
For many, 2018 is a magical number.
They can’t wait for the midterm
elections in November that will decide
who will control Congress in the
second half of Trump’s fi rst term as
president. Democrats dream of a “blue
tsunami” that will put them back into
power on Capitol Hill, while Republicans
are hopeful they can hold the
line (and the majority) despite Trump’s
unpopularity.
Queens, however, has a tragic number
when it comes to voting — 23. As
in 23 percent, the abysmal turnout of
registered voters during last November’s
mayoral election.
We’ve used this space before to
condemn voter apathy; implore our
readers to participate in their own
democracy; and call on our representatives
in government to do something
that would make it easier for everyone
to vote. Fortunately, Queens state senators
— including (but not limited to)
Michael Gianaris, Leroy Comrie and
Joe Addabbo — are answering the call.
They recently announced a package
of bills under consideration in
Albany that aim to take down various
obstacles preventing New Yorkers
from exercising their rights. The bills
would allow automatic voter registration
at public colleges; pre-registration
of 16- and 17-year-olds; online voting
registration; more time for voters
to change party affiliation and/or
register to vote; allow for voting by
mail; and scheduling federal and state
offi ce primaries to occur on the same
calendar day.
These ideas are all steps in the right
direction, and bring New York state
further into the 21st century when
it comes to elections. We take particular
interest in the proposed “no
excuses” vote-by-mail idea, which
Comrie in particular is sponsoring.
Although voters cannot be docked
for taking time out of their work day
to vote, confining balloting to just
15 hours on a given Election Day is
absurd. It’s not enough of a window
of time to encourage maximum participation
in voting.
Vote-by-mail is in place in Oregon
and Washington, and both states
have an easy and secure system by
which voters can make their choices.
New Yorkers ought to have a similar
system in place; its time has come.
We urge the state Legislature
and Governor Andrew Cuomo to
support the legislative package that
will make New York an easier place
to vote. We believe these ideas will
finally smash voter apathy in this
state and county, and provide us
with a government of which we can
be proud.
