Reforming Our Election System

A bill I sponsor in the Senate is now the focus of a House measure seeking to make voter registration automatic when citizens interact with a “government agency.” My legislation, S.5125 amends the New York State constitution to repeal the requirement that in order to register to vote, a voter make "personal application.” This amendment is necessary in order to pave the way for a voter registration system whereby every citizen, upon a specific occurrence, is registered to vote automatically by the state.

In the November 2014 election, 28.8 percent of New York State voters cast ballots, tying for the third lowest turnout among states in the nation's lowest voter turnout since 1942.

I sponsor a number of election reforms to provide greater protections of the process and improve turnout. One of which, S.2307, provides early voting for a candidate in a general election no sooner than twenty days and no later than five days prior to election day at county board of elections. I have carried this measure since 2007.