SERINO: ELECTION REFORM SHOULD NOT FALL ON BACKS OF LOCAL TAXPAYERS

ALBANY, NY—Earlier today, the NYS Senate voted on a series of legislative items being billed as ‘election reform’ initiatives. Senator Sue Serino released the following statement in response:

“Democracy relies on healthy voter turnout and we have a duty to ensure that our system empowers New York voters to make their voices heard. Today, I supported measures to do that, like consolidating our primary election days and passing legislation that would allow for ‘no-excuse absentee voting’—a measure that would ensure any New Yorker with a conflict on Election Day can cast their vote by absentee ballot.

I cannot however, support measures that place a significant financial burden on already overtaxed New Yorkers—like the ‘early voting’ proposal put before the house today.

In Dutchess County alone, the projected cost of the measure would be almost $1 million—just this year—with continued expenses accrued each election. In last year’s Executive Budget Proposal, the Governor only set aside $7 million—a small fraction of what would be necessary to fund this reform across the state. The measure ultimately failed to pass for this reason.

Without assurances of necessary state funding being set aside in this year’s, and future state budgets for ‘early voting,’ I could not in good faith support this measure. The new Democratic Majority ultimately disregarded these fiscal concerns, as well as the voices of local residents and local governments as they rushed to pass this mandate ahead of the Democratic Assembly and Governor. I urge the State’s new leaders to ensure that the measure is adequately funded each year so that the burden does not fall on the backs of local taxpayers.”  

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