Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is proposing several changes in election procedures that are meant to expand voting and speed up results.
Among his proposals:
Expand Hours for Early Voting: Cuomo’s proposal would expand early voting hours from 6pm to 9pm on weekends as well as on a minimum of three week days during the 10-day early voting period.
No-Excuse Absentee Voting for All New Yorkers: Cuomo will call on the Legislature to act quickly to pass a resolution again to allow no-excuse absentee voting and put the resolution on the ballot.
Allow More Time for Voters to Request Absentee Ballots: The state election law prohibits voters from requesting their absentee ballots more than 30 days before Election Day. Cuomo will advance legislation allowing voters to request absentee ballots 45 days prior to the election, ensuring they can be mailed as soon as the ballot is finalized and approved by the Election Board.
Speed Up the Counting of Absentee Ballots: Cuomo will introduce legislation requiring county boards of elections to process absentee ballots as they are received and to begin counting and reporting those ballots on Election Day. Currently, New York State’s election law only requires that boards of elections meet to process and count ballots within two weeks of a general election and within eight days of a primary election.
“While we have already made some progress in modernizing New York’s election system, there is much left to do and this historic package of election reforms will be critical in strengthening how elections are run and ensuring all New Yorkers are able to exercise this fundamental right.,” Cuomo said.
New York State political calendar
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