Gov. Cuomo signed sweeping voting legislation Thursday that includes early ballot casting, pre-registration for minors, and extended hours for upstate polling places.
With reforms designed to bring voting into the 21st Century, Cuomo said he was fighting back against efforts across the country to keep certain voters from participating in the election process.
“I believe the federal government has purposely disenfranchised voters,” Cuomo said. “I think there has been an attempt in the country, all across the country, to make voting difficult for people they don’t want to vote.”
Cuomo also touted online voter registration and making Election Day a holiday.
“Upstate New York in a primary, the polls don’t open until noon,” Cuomo said. “But the polls open at 6 a.m. in New York City and other parts of the state. Why? You want people to vote, open up the polls so they can vote. And if you’re really serious about wanting people to vote, let’s make Election Day a holiday so people have the time to go out and vote.”
The reforms, which were approved by the Legislature, would also synchronize federal and state elections, and close the LLC loophole by capping political spending by a limited liability corporation to a total of $5,000 annually, which is the same amount as corporations.
Voters who relocate within the state would also be able to vote without having to reregister.
The legislature also passed resolutions for voting changes that require amendments to the state constitution. Those changes include no-excuse absentee voting by mail, same-day registration and online registration.
“These laws are a very important step and are setting an example not just only in the state, but for the federal government as well,” said actor Ben Stiller, a voting rights activist who joined Cuomo at his New York office for the announcement.
“This is what we should be doing in terms of having people have the access to voting so they can really determine their future.”
The reforms had been blocked for years by Republicans in the state Senate. The bills all passed earlier this month, following a Democratic takeover of the Senate in last year’s elections.
“Government should be about breaking down barriers,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “We need more voices in our democracy, not fewer.”