North
Country Legislatures should get on board
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell announced that legislation to
change New York ’s primary
election date to June passed the Assembly and called on County
LegislaturesNorth Country to
support the legislation as it moves to the Senate.
“Holding
multiple primaries is an unfunded mandate for localities across the state that
is not only unnecessary, but harmful to the institution of voting,”
Assemblywoman Russell said. “This is a situation in which county governments
should get involved and let the legislature know that they support this common
sense solution.”
Assembly
bill A.8198 consolidates the election calendar so that state and federal
primaries are held on the same day – the fourth Tuesday in June. Holding a
single June primary day would encourage voter participation, save taxpayers
almost $50 million and ensure that military personnel have ample time to participate
in our elections, Assemblywoman Russell noted.
In 2009, the federal Military and
Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act was passed, requiring that absentee
ballots be in the hands of overseas military personnel 45 days prior to a
general election. Currently, New York ’s
September state primary election day is not in compliance with this law because
it falls too close to the deadline for transmitting military and overseas
absentee ballots. New York State New
York for federal offices. The Assembly’s bill would
bring primaries for statewide office in line with the act.
“While it’s
unacceptable for voting to be made more difficult than it needs to be, it’s
unconscionable to hamper our troop’s ability to participate in the very
democracy they defend,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This bill protects our
troop’s ability to vote and saves county governments money that they can put to
better use maintaining infrastructure and ensuring public safety.”
-30-