Senate Democratic Conference Introduces Bill To Move State Primary Election Date To June

Albany, NY - The Senate Democratic Conference today announced the introduction of legislation to hold the state’s Primary Election day for state and federal offices in June. This billwould save state and local governments $50 million by holding a single primary election andmoving Primary Election day from the month of September.

“This is a common sense and good government approach to save our local taxpayers at least $50million and will help increase voter turnout, giving more people a voice in the electoral process ,” Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said.

This bill, S.6204, sponsored by Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins iscarried by Speaker Sheldon Silver in the State Assembly. This legislation would bring the stateinto compliance with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act,which enacted certain requirements for federal elections to accommodate service membersoverseas and other Americans living abroad.

Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Elections Committee, said, “ Forcing taxpayers and local governments to pay an additional $50 million for two separatePrimary Day elections is an unconscionable and wasteful mandate. But more troubling than thecosts, maintaining the unnecessary September primary will deprive military members servingoverseas of one of our most fundamental rights -- the ri ght to have their vote counted.”

Additionally, the bill introduced by members of the Senate Democratic Conference would reducethe need to hold an additional election, a federal primary election in June and a state and local primary election in September. Holding a single primary election day would increase voterturnout and save at least $50 million for state and local governments.

Click here to view the official press release.