Mission: 

• The purpose of our committee:

1. To insure free and fair elections in which all citizens have the opportunity to have their voices heard

2. To increase voter turnout via voter education

3. To prevent voter suppression by supporting and promoting election reform policies, practices, and legislation

Election Reform Bills Passed by NYS Legislature 2024

Election Reform Accomplishments for 2023 

• Priorities for 2023

1. 1. Election Procedure Reform

   2.  Election Reform Legislation

   3. Election Security

   4. Ranked Choice Voting

   5. State Board of Election Reform

   6. Voter Registration

   7. Voting Rights for the Incarcerated

• Role of Each Member

1. Each member will select a topic that interest the person. He/She will research that topic, educate members of the Committee and/or U-ACT general membership.

2. He/She will report on the status of any legislation related to that topic at our monthly meeting.

3. Monthly reporting to U-ACT general membership and Election Reform

4. Committee meeting minutes will be rotated among the members of the committee.

Election Reform Victories 2021

1. Permanently, automatically restoring voting rights to New York citizens returning home from periods of incarceration (enacted into law)

2. Early Voting: New York now has 9 days of early voting for every election. The 2019 New York State budget included $14.7 million for electronic poll-books and $10 million for counties to implement early voting (enacted into law)

3. Flexibility to Change Party Affiliation (enacted into law): New York had the most restrictive deadline in the country, locking out hundreds of thousands of voters during the primaries. The change of party deadline was shortened to allow people to make an informed decision.

4. Pre-registration of 16 and 17-year-olds (enacted into law): 13 states plus DC allow for pre-registration for voting at 16 and 17 years old. Pre-registration increases the likelihood of voter participation among young adults. Engaging potential voters at a young age and bringing them into the voting process early helps create lifelong voters.

5. Consolidation of Primary Election Dates (enacted into law)

6. Automatic Voter Registration: where registering to vote becomes seamless, electronic, and automatic. 16 states and Washington DC have already implemented some form of AVR (enacted into law)

7. Vote by mail: No eligible voter should have to provide a reason to be able to vote absentee (passed twice in the NYS legislature, now on the November, 2021 election ballot to amend the NYS Constitution)

8. Same-day registration: 18 states and DC have Same-day Registration. Same-day Registration enables voters to register and vote on election day (passed twice in the NYS legislature, now on the November, 2021 election ballot to amend the NYS Constitution).

2019 Accomplishments

1. 38 total voting rights laws passed this year

2. Press pieces on voting reform

3. Animations of accomplishments

• Committee meeting notes