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Budget amendment would allow early voting in St. Lawrence County, rest of NY

Posted 3/7/18

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced a 30-day budget amendment will be advanced to fund voting reforms, including early voting across the state. This action will provide approximately $7 …

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Budget amendment would allow early voting in St. Lawrence County, rest of NY

Posted

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced a 30-day budget amendment will be advanced to fund voting reforms, including early voting across the state.

This action will provide approximately $7 million in the upcoming executive budget for New York counties to offer early voting in the 12 days leading up to Election Day.

The legislation will require every county to offer residents access to at least one early voting poll site during the 12 days leading up to Election Day. Voters will have at least eight hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends to cast early ballots. Counties must have one early voting poll site for every 50,000 residents and the bipartisan County Boards of Elections will determine the specific location of early voting polling places, subject to standards of accessibility and convenience.

Under current law, New York is one of 13 states where early voting is not available and an excuse is required to request an absentee ballot. New Yorkers can vote via absentee ballot only if the voter meets certain qualifications such as being absent from his or her county on Election Day or being unable to get to the polls due to a disability.

“Research shows that work, school, and personal commitments can prevent voters from participating in United States elections. Early voting would ameliorate these inhibitors and lead to shorter lines on Election Day, early detection and correction of registration errors and greater access to voting. Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia already allow voters to cast ballots in person before Election Day,” according to a news release from Cuomo’s office.

"Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and no one should have to choose between exercising their sacred right to vote and going to work, school or personal commitments," Cuomo said in a prepared statement. "By offering early voting across the state, we are further breaking down barriers to democracy and helping to ensure that all New Yorkers' voices are heard."