Let NY Vote is a nonpartisan, state-wide coalition working to improve our elections by making voting more accessible, secure, and equitable for every New York voter.

Over the past six years, we brought the issue of voting reform front and center in New York and successfully advocated for the passage of over a dozen landmark voting rights reforms — the first in New York in over a century — that ensure New Yorkers have more time to vote, an easier time voting, and modern voter registration systems.

Let new york vote end of 2024 session letter to election leaders

May 6, 2024

Re: Elections and Voting Priorities for Remainder of 2024 Session

Dear Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, Senator Myrie, and Assemblymember Walker:

The Let NY Vote Coalition commends you for ensuring that the FY 2025 budget provides key funding for our state’s voting and elections infrastructure and supports election officials serving New York’s voters in this critical election year. Thanks to your leadership, New York is emerging as a national leader in fostering a stronger and more inclusive democracy. But more needs to be done.

As you plan for the final weeks of the 2024 session, we strongly urge you to consider the following Let NY Vote priorities for the remainder of this year:

Permit New York to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) (S6173B/A7052C). In recent elections, the use of unreliable data by New York election officials has resulted in eligible voters being improperly removed from the rolls or inaccurately marked as “inactive.” This bill, which has strong bipartisan support, would improve the accuracy of the rolls and holds the promise to increase civic participation throughout the state.
Begin the process to move all local elections, including city elections, to even-numbered years (S9126). Voter turnout was predictably dismal in last year’s odd-year elections. This bill would address this issue by starting the constitutional amendment process to move all local elections to even years. The policy is proven to increase voter turnout and promote a more representative electorate.
Enact the legislative package to modernize election administration (S136/A2565, S585A/A9162, S609/A6973, S611A/A919A, S612B/A1244B, S613A, S614/A3331, S617, S619A/A662A, S644A/A1258A, S645A). Sound election administration is central to the health of our democracy. By strengthening professionalism at New York’s state and local boards of elections (BOEs) and improving their readiness to serve all voters, this slate of bills will reinforce public confidence in our elections.
Create a nation-leading database for voting and election data. Thanks to this year’s budget, voting and election data is now centralized in the State Board of Elections. But more must be done to ensure that the public has access to the key data that’s necessary for our state to realize the promise of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York. We urge the Legislature to follow Connecticut’s lead and create a nation-leading database.
Expand civic engagement practices for students with the new Student Voter Empowerment Act. New York’s youth turnout rate has improved in recent elections but still falls behind the national average. This bill would ensure universities and colleges actively work to close the voter registration and turnout gap of young voters.
Codify the right to vote for eligible citizens detained in jails through the Democracy During Detention Act (S6875/A9612). Many New Yorkers detained in jails have the right to vote, including citizens detained pretrial or convicted of misdemeanors, but their access to the ballot is severely limited. This is a form of voter suppression. This bill would establish a flexible program to ensure voting is accessible for all those eligible to vote who are detained in jails.
Ensure the use of paper ballots, including by passing VIVA (S6169A/A5934A) and Protect Our Ballots Act (S2385/A3992A). Paper ballots marked by voters are the gold standard for election security. By requiring every voter to have the option to mark a paper ballot either by hand or with a non-tabulating ballot marking device, voters can feel confident their vote will be accurately counted.
Require better notice to voters who are purged or put on inactive status (S6168/A6764). Many voters arrive at the polls only to find that, without their knowledge, their voter registration was canceled or placed in inactive status. This bill would ensure that BOEs use all addresses and communication methods in the voter’s registration record to provide adequate notice of a cancellation or inactive status.

In addition to these priorities, our coalition continues to support restarting the constitutional amendment process for no-excuse absentee voting and same-day registration, as well as advancing the restoration of voting rights to currently incarcerated New Yorkers (S316/A412) through a constitutional amendment.

These proposals are essential to protecting and strengthening democracy in New York. We urge you to advance these priorities during the final weeks of the 2024 legislative session.

Sincerely,

The Let NY Vote Coalition

our 2024 legislative agenda

Move New York City’s local elections to even-numbered years, including city elections (requires a constitutional amendment).

Require better notice to voters who are purged or put on inactive status (S6168/A6764).

Have New York join ERIC, an interstate data sharing organization that helps keep voter rolls clean (S6173B/A7052C).

our longer-term goals

Improving election administration across New York State.

The John L. Flateau Voting and Elections Database and Academic Center of New York Act (S657A/A885A).

Expand civic engagement practices for students by enacting a new Student Voter Empowerment Act.

Democracy During Detention Act, which establishes the election infrastructure that makes voting accessible for all those eligible to vote who are detained in jails (S6875/A9612).