Gov. Cuomo: “These measures are critical to ensuring a successful and fair election at one of the most important moments in our nation’s history.”
Yesterday, Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to expand access to the ballot box this November. Under the new law, every registered voter in New York is allowed to request an absentee ballot due to COVID-19 concerns.
Gov. Cuomo also signed another bill eliminating the state’s rule that voters can’t request absentee ballots any sooner than a month before the election. Registered voters in New York can now request absentee ballots immediately.
This new legislation follows an executive order signed in April by Gov. Cuomo that allowed voters to vote by mail in the June primary. In that election, the state received over 1.8 million requests for absentee ballots and nearly 40% of ballots cast were done through the mail.
Read more about Gov. Cuomo’s new legislation below and learn how Democratic governors are fighting to expand access to the ballot box at EveryStateEveryVote.com.
New York Times: New York Will Allow Voters to Cast Mail-In Ballots
New York State will allow most voters to cast their ballots by mail in the November general election, joining a growing list of states that have expanded mail-in voting to address the potential spread of the coronavirus at polling places.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a third-term Democrat, signed a bill on Thursday allowing voters to request an absentee ballot if they cannot show up at a polling location because of the risk of contracting or spreading an illness, effectively permitting the state’s more than 12 million registered voters to vote by mail.
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Politico: Cuomo signs package establishing universal absentee voting for November
It’s official: Every registered voter in New York will be allowed to cast a vote by mail in November.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Thursday, NY S8015 (19R), that redefines the rules governing who is eligible to receive an absentee ballot. The state constitution says that the Legislature can authorize an absentee program only for people who are ill or traveling. The bill in question redefines the statutory definition of “illness” to include “a risk of contracting or spreading a disease that may cause illness to the voter or other members of the public.”
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CNN: New York expands absentee rules for people worried about getting sick
New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that he’d signed legislation allowing voters who are concerned about the risk of contracting or spreading an illness, such as coronavirus, to request an absentee ballot for the November general election.
The state will also count absentee ballots that do not have a postmark as long as they are received by the Board of Elections the day after the election, November 4. Ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than November 10 will be counted as well.
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Associated Press: New York allows voters to get absentee ballots amid virus concerns
New York will allow voters to request absentee ballots for the general election because of coronavirus under a new state law signed Thursday.
Lawmakers passed the bill last month, and voting rights groups have been calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign the legislation for weeks.
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Voters in New York can start requesting absentee ballots immediately under another bill Cuomo signed.
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The Hill: Cuomo signs bill to expand absentee voting in New York
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill Thursday that will allow all New Yorkers to vote by mail if they are concerned about the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19.
“I just signed legislation to guarantee that New Yorkers can vote safely & that EVERY vote counts,” Cuomo tweeted. “All voters can now request an absentee ballot if they are concerned about COVID.”
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Forbes: Cuomo Signs New Laws To Expand Absentee Voting Ahead Of Presidential Vote
New York is the latest state to make voting more accessible for residents during the presidential election this November as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a three-piece bundle of election reforms aimed at easing the process of casting absentee ballots.
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New York Daily News: Cuomo signs election reform bills to make absentee voting easier for New Yorkers
A majority of New Yorkers will be able to vote via absentee ballot in the November general election after Gov. Cuomo approved a trio of bills expanding and protecting mail-in voting.
The election reforms signed into law Thursday, as President Trump continues to claim without evidence that mail-in balloting is rife with fraud and abuse, will allow New Yorkers to immediately request an absentee ballot due to COVID-19 risks or fears of contracting the virus.
Another measure addresses some of the Postal Service problems that plagued the state’s primary by allowing ballots to be postmarked on day of election and ensures all absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day or received by the Board of Elections without a postmark on the day after the Election will be counted.
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WGRZ: Governor Cuomo signs new laws to make voting easier for New Yorkers
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday he has signed new legislation that will make it easier for New Yorkers to vote in the upcoming election this November.
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“The federal administration has ordered an unprecedented attack on the U.S. Postal Service and with COVID-19 threatening our ability to have safe, in-person voting, these measures are critical to ensuring a successful and fair election at one of the most important moments in our nation’s history,” Governor Cuomo said.
“These actions will further break down barriers to democracy and will make it easier for all New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote this November.”
