Statement from Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, Senator Andrew Lanza & Assemblyman Mike Reilly

Later this week, the New York City Council will vote on a blatantly unconstitutional measure to grant more than 800,000 non-citizens the right to vote in elections. This is the latest in a long line of anti-democratic proposals that will devalue the sacred right of law-abiding American citizens who participate in our democracy. Just last month, New Yorkers soundly rejected Democrats’ transparent political power plays and un-American electoral “reforms” with the defeat of several constitutional amendments.

Every member of the City Council who believes in our Constitution and the sanctity of our elections must stand up and loudly reject this proposal. If it does pass, the Mayor should veto the bill, and if he does not, a swift, Constitutionally-sound, and ultimately successful legal challenge will immediately follow.

The Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences remain committed at the state level to upholding the integrity of our elections, upholding our constitution, and opposing hyper-partisan attacks on our democracy.

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