By Bill Parry
Mayor Bill de Blasio is urging Albany to pass a slate of reforms to allow same-day voter registration, early voting and the consolidation of primary elections. There are nearly two million individuals in New York state who are not registered to vote, and half of them live in the city, he said last week.
“Conducting free and fair elections is a sacred duty of government, yet in New York state, the way we hold elections is outdated, underfunded and seems designed to discourage participation,” de Blasio said. “We’re here to say that in New York City we’re fighting for every voice to be heard. We need to make our call loud and clear: our system needs to be fairer and more open if we want our democracy to be a representative one.”
Other reforms include the use of electronic poll books to ease the voting process and mitigate long waits to vote, reformatting the way ballots to make them easier to use, and the pre-registration of 16- and 17-year-olds so they automatically become active on their 18th birthday.
De Blasio’s reforms were endorsed by several borough lawmakers.
“As states across the country take action on electoral reforms to improve transparency and voter turnout, it is important that the conversation in New York continues not only during an election year, but all year round,” Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Flushing) said. “It is clear that changes in the current system are needed to allow for greater inclusivity and access, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to determine the most effective measures that will benefit all New Yorkers.”
The mayor is also calling for voter registration forms in more languages in addition to the four translations that are available. City agencies provide translations in Russian, Arabic, French and Italian, among others.
“As a Council Member representing one of the most diverse districts in the nation, I am proud that the City has translated voter registration forms into 11 additional languages, beyond the five required by state law,” City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) said. “Everyone should exercise their right to vote and have a say on who leads their government. This drive and push for reform will ensure that more voices are included in the process.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
