Press Release
Democracy Doesn’t Pause: Common Cause/NY on How Elections Can Proceed During COVID-19
Common Cause/NY released a white paper today with recommendations on how New York elections can proceed during a pandemic, including...
Phone: (212) 691-6421 | Email: slerner@commoncause.org
Susan Lerner is the executive director of Common Cause/New York, where she has served since December, 2007. Passionate about voting rights and accessible, reliable, and secure elections, Susan is a founder of Let NY Vote, a statewide coalition that has successfully advocated to bring transformative election reforms, such as Early Voting and Automatic Voter Registration, to New York State. She heads Rank the Vote NYC which is conducting a citywide voter education campaign following its success in placing and passing Ranked Choice Voting on the November 2019 NYC ballot. Susan writes and speaks extensively on voting rights, election reform, campaign finance, redistricting, ethics, transparency and other good government issues, and is a go-to source for reporters and editorial board writers throughout New York State on these issues. A former litigator, Susan is a member of the New York and California bars.
The Latest From Susan Lerner
Press Release
Common Cause/NY Calls to Consolidate Brooklyn Special Election w/ June 23rd Primaries for Legislature and Congress
"We applaud Governor Cuomo for taking swift action to lower the petition signature requirement for candidates in New York. However, there is some confusion over whether or not those same requirements apply to the special election race in NYC Council District 37 scheduled for April 28..."
Press Release
Common Cause/NY Calls to Consolidate April Primaries on June 23rd in light of COVID-19
We urge the Governor and lawmakers to consolidate the presidential primary and other relevant special elections with the June 23rd legislative and congressional primary. Generally we believe that elections should not be postponed, however, the current circumstances require extraordinary measures. Consolidating the primaries is a prudent public health measure that does not undermine our democracy, and frees up much needed funding for more immediate public health needs.
Press Release
Good Gov’t Groups to NYS Lawmakers: “Keep Policy Out of the Budget”
"...We are all agreed on a unified and focused fiscal response to the health crisis facing our state, providing the necessary funds as part of the budget so that all levels of government can respond aggressively to the public health threat presented by COVID-19. Lawmakers must remain focused on that goal alone, and not try to cram through unrelated policy issues as part of the budget. ..."
Report
ExpressVote XL Voting Machines Are Bad for New York
The New York State Board of Elections is planning to certify a voting machine that is highly error-prone, expensive and would only serve to undermine faith in the accuracy of election results.
Testimony
Common Cause/NY Testimony on 50-A
Common Cause/NY supports the repeal of 50-A.
Testimony
Common Cause/NY Testimony on Public Financing for New York State
Common Cause/NY testified in support of a public financing system for NYS elections.
Press Release
Let New Yorkers rank their candidates: It’s long past time to overhaul the way elections work
Yesterday, in one of the most crowded races in New York City history, Jumaane Williams won his campaign for Public Advocate against 16 other candidates with 33% of the vote. That’s right. A tiny fraction of New Yorkers — only 8.6% of active voters — turned out to elect the second most powerful politician in the city, and the victor didn’ t come close to a majority.
Press Release
An Opportunity to Offer Real Election Reform in New York City
Last Tuesday during the Ohio-12 special election, Americans found themselves angry at third party voters – again – for “wasting” their votes.
This problem is not unique to Ohio: in multi-candidate competitive races, we see upset voters of one party or candidate hold others accountable for their loss.
The blame should not be placed on voters -- it should be on the broken election system. Just look at New York City.
New York City primaries are crowded fields, with sometimes with as many as...
This problem is not unique to Ohio: in multi-candidate competitive races, we see upset voters of one party or candidate hold others accountable for their loss.
The blame should not be placed on voters -- it should be on the broken election system. Just look at New York City.
New York City primaries are crowded fields, with sometimes with as many as...