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High Scores for New York on Common Cause’s 2024 Democracy Scorecard
“The 2024 Democracy Scorecard empowers voters with information to hold their leaders in Washington accountable for a government that works for all.”
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Across the country, millions of voters have been casting ballots early, surpassing expectations set by previous low turnout midterms and pointing to the possible existence of a very real Blue Wave—or maybe not. While it's probably still too early to know what any of this means, there are definitely some encouraging signs of bubbling civic excitement: In 26 states, more people have already voted than in the entirety of the 2014 midterms; despite blatant voter suppression attempts in Georgia, residents are smashing previous midterm early...
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has expanded a program that puts more translators at polling places across the city, but good government groups fear they won't be able to connect with voters.
That's because the city's Board of Election is requiring them to set up more than 100 feet away.
That's because the city's Board of Election is requiring them to set up more than 100 feet away.
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The midterm elections are about a week away, but millions of people have already voted: More than half of states offer early voting in-person or by mail.
New York is not one of them.
New York is not one of them.
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Asked what part of state election law needs the most tweaking, Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, a not-for-profit that focuses on voting rights, said, “It’s hard to pick just one.”
Lerner told the Herald Gazette that the Nassau County Board of Elections is particularly troublesome. “Nassau is one of the problem counties,” she said.
Lerner described the county board as “patronage driven,” referring to almost 20 positions on it that are filled by people — Republicans and...
Lerner told the Herald Gazette that the Nassau County Board of Elections is particularly troublesome. “Nassau is one of the problem counties,” she said.
Lerner described the county board as “patronage driven,” referring to almost 20 positions on it that are filled by people — Republicans and...
Press Release
Common Cause/NY and Advocates Call for Public Hearings on Sexual Harassment
Strong sexual harassment legislation requires input from experts, advocates, and those who have experienced sexual harassment themselves. New York State has not held a public hearing on sexual harassment since 1992.
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Common Cause New York is encouraging voters to make their voices heard, and promoting their 'Let New York Vote' campaign meant to expand voting accessibility and advocate for voter reform. The group's executive director, Susan Lerner, explains.
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At a press conference outside BOE headquarters on Thursday afternoon, Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause NY, said that her organization scrutinized the voter files from the primary after hearing from more than 100 people who experienced problems while trying to vote.
"We were shocked to find over 300 people who were able to vote in the Democratic Congressional primary in June, who are now mysteriously switched to being 'unaffiliated,' so there are a lot of answers we need," Lerner said.
"We were shocked to find over 300 people who were able to vote in the Democratic Congressional primary in June, who are now mysteriously switched to being 'unaffiliated,' so there are a lot of answers we need," Lerner said.
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“People who've only voted in New York think all the elections across the country are the same craziness,” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York. “They are not.”
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Susan Lerner with Common Cause said in a statement that “New Yorkers deserve better,” and she urged Cuomo to take the lead to close a loophole in the campaign finance laws that allow donors to use limited liability companies to skirt contribution limits, to ban outside income for lawmakers and to increase oversight over state economic development programs.
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But perhaps the most significant takeaway from yesterday's primary is that the bar for record-breaking, expectation-shattering turnout in New York remains stubbornly low. As Susan Lerner, the always on-brand executive director of Common Cause NY notes, a majority of eligible voters still did not vote in yesterday's primary, and an untold number of those who tried found their registrations mysteriously changed, if not entirely purged.
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“This is a perennial problem,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of voting rights organization Common Cause New York. “It’s very hard to maintain an active voter roll, but in New York City it’s particularly challenging because of the large number of voters, the way people move around readily and the fact systems are not user friendly.”
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With New Yorkers heading to the polls on Thursday for the gubernatorial primary, it’s a good time to reflect on the dreadful state of the supposedly progressive state’s voting laws. Despite a governor who pays lip service to the issue, New York seems determined to make it difficult for its citizens to cast ballots, forgoing the progress made in much of the rest of the country in recent years. Perhaps not coincidentally, New York has some of the lowest voting rates in America.
Daily Intelligencer spoke briefly with Susan...
Daily Intelligencer spoke briefly with Susan...