New York would make it easier to sue over discriminatory voting policies and require localities with a history of civil right violations to get approval before.
The state legislature approved new voting rights legislation on Thursday that would, among other things, require certain local governments to seek clearance from the state when they make changes to their elections, like clearing voter rolls or moving polling sites.
The New York State Senate passed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York among additional measures to establish the strongest state protections of an individual's right to vote in the nation. Named after civil rights activist and American statesman Rep. John R. Lewis, the NYVRA and other voter protections will prohibit deceptive and suppressive voter practices, establish a voting and elections database, and make electronic election interference a misdemeanor crime. Read the Senate Majority Press Release.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “The John R.
Following an article that found the Board of Elections failed to enforce a 2019 transparency law, the board sent donors a letter requesting that they comply with the law’s requirements. Thousands did within weeks.