Two years ago, voters in New York rejected constitutional amendments that aimed to expand voting rights. Although the outcome wasn’t favorable, this is simply how democracy functions, even though these amendments would have improved democracy in our state.
But that’s just the way it goes. If you’re not satisfied with the result, take action to change people’s opinions and try again. This is also part of the democratic process.
However, Governor Kathy Hochul and her fellow Democrats in the Legislature have taken a different approach, bypassing the voters and enacting a law that achieves the same objectives as one of the amendments, regardless of what the state constitution or the voters had initially stated.
This is certainly not how democracy is supposed to function.
The law in question focuses on allowing no-excuse mail-in ballots, which is a legitimate method for conducting elections. It makes voting more accessible for individuals who face difficulties going to the polling stations due to various reasons. This method has been successfully implemented in 35 states and Washington, D.C.
In 2021, it appeared that New Yorkers preferred this approach over the narrow absentee voting limits outlined in the constitution, which were only applicable in cases where a voter was ill or away from their home county. A July poll conducted by Siena indicated that 55 percent of voters supported this change.
However, on Election Day, 55 percent of the voters who participated in the measure rejected it.
How did this outcome occur? It seems that Republicans made more efforts to mobilize their voters against the measure than Democrats did to rally support for it. This occurred shortly after the 2020 presidential election, during which former President Donald Trump falsely claimed there was widespread voter fraud. The GOP leveraged this false narrative to energize their base.
It’s crucial to note that voter suppression should not be a partisan issue. Any impediment to legitimate voters’ rights undermines democracy. Nevertheless, the majority of those who voted in New York in 2021 had a different perspective on this matter.
Instead, Democrats and other supporters of the amendments should have redoubled their efforts immediately after the election. They should have called for a special session to vote on reintroducing the measures to the ballot, followed by another vote once a new Legislature took office in 2022, as required by the constitution. Finally, they should have ensured a strong public campaign in favor of the amendments leading up to the November ballot.
However, they opted to pass a law that does not amend the constitution and potentially violates it. This decision will likely face legal challenges, which is not a good image for either party. Republicans continue to perpetuate baseless claims of stolen elections while masking voter suppression as electoral integrity. Meanwhile, Democrats are disregarding the results of a public referendum.
This situation could also have negative consequences for voters. If the case extends beyond an election, a court may have to invalidate mail-in ballots that have already been cast.
Donald Trump and his Republican counterparts have already caused enough electoral chaos. New York’s Democrats should not contribute to further turmoil. Resolving this issue in a court of law and ensuring our leaders abide by the law is essential for the well-being of New York and our democracy.
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