Fox5: Will New York's outdated voting laws finally be reformed?

So why can't New York get these commonsense measures passed?

"The simple answer is politics," state Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, said.

He has sponsored the Voter Empowerment Act for the past six years. Among the reforms it includes is automatic voter registration anytime an eligible voter visits a state government agency. But every year the bill has stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate.

"There are some people in office who think it's better for them if fewer people vote," Gianaris said.

He plans to introduce the bill again in January. A separate early-voting bill will also be back on the docket.

Both Gianaris and Lerner are hopeful that a surge in voter engagement in November will mean more political will to finally change the outdated laws.

"Whoever is in charge of the legislature, we're expecting to see election reform," Lerner said.

"This should be an issue that's beyond politics," Gianaris said. "We should all agree that the more people participate in our elections the better off we all are."

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