Learning Session: Can New York Finally Deliver Voting By Mail?

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

Speakers

• Susan Lerner, executive director, Common Cause/New York

• Andrew Garber, counsel, ​ Voting Rights and Elections Program, Brennan Center 

• Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director, POWER, Pennsylvania  

​​Moderated by Patricia A. Swann, senior program advisor at the New York Community Trust and GoVoteNYC co-chair

Attempts to allow New Yorkers to join millions of other Americans in being able to cast their ballots by mail have been episodic and confused. The ability to vote by mail was expanded during COVID through executive order and a temporary state law, but that provision expired. A 2021 referendum question to amend the state constitution to create no-excuse absentee voting, failed. Then in the final days of the 2023 session, the State Legislature passed The New York Early Mail Voter Act. Governor Hochul signed the bill into law in September and a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality was immediately filed.  

This session will update you on the latest developments in this fast-moving dynamic and ask whether New York can finally get it right and deliver voting by mail.  

You will also hear about the experience of voting by mail in other states and what New York can learn from them. Pennsylvania recently implemented a similar law to New York to make it easier for voters to request a mail ballot. But other states, particularly in the west, do not require voters to ask for a mail ballot. Instead they have universal vote by mail where all eligible voters receive either a ballot or ballot application by default. 

How much difference to voter turnout in New York might these various approaches make? 

GoVoteNYC is committed to a welcoming, accessible experience. If you need accommodations or accessibility to join and participate in this event please specify your request in an email to info@govotenyc.org