Say It Saves State $, Increases Voter Turnout
Hoping to save money and spare voters from having to vote more than twice a year, the Assembly passed on Monday, Jan. 13, legislation to move statewide primaries to June beginning this year.
Presently, primary races for statewide offices of governor, attorney general and comptroller-as well as seats in the state legislature- are scheduled to take place on the second Tuesday in September. Congressional primaries, however, are due to take place in June, in accordance with federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act to provide military personnel serving abroad with ample opportunity to obtain and then submit absentee ballots.
The bill (A.8198, with the companion bill S.06204 in the State Senate) would move the statewide primaries to June to coincide with the Congressional primaries. Proponents claim the measure would save the state millions while also increasing participation and reducing voter confusion.
“Protecting one’s right to vote and increasing participation in elections is the key to sustaining our democracy,” Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, who is supporting the legislation, said in a press release on Monday, Jan. 13. “Every voice deserves to be heard, every vote deserves to be counted and every citizen-including those who serve our country in the military- should have an equal opportunity to participate in elections.”
Federal legislation first moved the Congressional primaries to the fourth Tuesday in June beginning in 2012. In New York State, voters enrolled in the Democratic Party were called to vote three times: in the June Congressional primary, in the September statewide primaries and in the November general election.
Registered Republicans had even more work to do that year, as they participated in a February presidential primary in addition to the contests held in June, September and November that year.
The frequent elections proved to be a drain both in turnout and in state funds, according to proponents of the bill. Consolidating statewide primaries with the June Congressional primaries would save up to $50 million in expenses, according to Goldfeder.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is the lead sponsor of the Assembly bill; among the co-sponsors are local Assembly Members Jeffrion Aubry, Michael DenDekker, Andrew Hevesi, Margaret Markey, Michael Simanowitz and Aravella Simotas.
“Passing legislation to establish a single primary date in June is a common-sense solution that saves our state and local governments a significant amount of money while also encouraging more voters to participate in the electoral process,” Silver said in a statement announcing the Assembly passage of the bill Monday. “Unifying the state’s multiple primary dates has been long overdue.”
In the State Senate, Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins is the lead sponsor of the bill; local co-sponsors include State Senators Martin Malavé Dilan and Toby Ann Stavisky. The legislation was referred to the Senate Elections Committee last Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Should the legislation be passed by the State Senate, the bill would move forward to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature.
This year’s Congressional primaries are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 24. If unchanged, the statewide primaries would happen on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
For information on voting or to find a polling place, call 1-212- VOTE-NYC or visit www.vote.nyc.ny.us.
