New York State Voting Laws

We are great in New York State about pointing out other people's problems and shortcomings. Perhaps we feel entitled. Perhaps our diversity and our struggles make it easier. Perhaps we've seen so much injustice and unfairness that we believe we have a claim on truth and justice. Whatever the reason, we were given a taste of reality on Presidential Primary Election Day 2016. Actually many knew about the issues before Primary Day but the actual vote and instances of disenfranchisement brought it home much more clearly.

Yes, New York State has problems with our voting regulations and laws and the problems were out there for every one to see on April 19, 2016. Here's just a short list. No early voting, something we are outraged by when we see it in other parts of the country. No same day registration, again an outrageous thing in this day and age. To switch political parties, NYS requires a six month do ahead. A closed primary protects the interests of the major parties but not the voters. Online, electronic registration is next to non-existent. You can register online through the Dept. of Motor Vehicles but all you can do at the Board of Elections website is print off the form, fill it out by hand and mail it in. As I said, that's the short list.

Much of this is about power struggles and power brokering by current elected officials and by the two major political parties. The NYS Legislature and the Governor couldn't come to agreement on any consolidation of primary voting dates in this Presidential Election year so New Yorkers and taxpayers will have two additional primary dates this year on top of the one just held. We'll be having a Federal Office Primary as well as a State and Local Primary spread out through the summer/fall and then the general election.

In the meantime, pundits, party leaders and politicians will criticize the electorate for low turn out and a lack of involvement. Truth be known, low voter turn out is the goal for many of our leaders and representatives.

This year it was hard to hide the truth from voters. There was a lot of emotion and a lot of interest in the Presidential Primary. All of that uncovered the blemishes and sores in NYS's election law. But like others, we have short memories in NY. It will be easier to criticize our neighbors to the south and the west then to really do anything about our existing laws. Just as it has become easier for the Governor and the Legislature to put off or forget about ethics reform as a judge prepares to sentence the former Speaker of the NYS Assembly and the Majority Leader of the NYS Senate for corruption and gross misconduct.

Voters are disgusted and angry. They should be. The trick now is to do something about it.