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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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Common Cause/NY Responds to Ruling Against Independent Ethics Commission
Judge Marcelle has imposed an all consuming, and far reaching fidelity to uncontrolled executive power to deny New Yorkers independent oversight of our elected leaders. It is a fundamental tenet of good government that politicians can not police themselves, which this decision seeks to undo. Further, the judge argues that since there is no precedent for independent ethics oversight in New York state, it is somehow proof against concept rather than an argument in its favor. Corruption in New York is what's exceptional and unacceptable to the...
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Common Cause/NY to New Yorkers: “Beware of Rouge Boards of Election Impersonators”
"New Yorkers beware: rouge, fake Board of Elections (BOE) 'employees' are harassing voters at their homes regarding their registration status. The BOE will only contact a voter via mail, e-mail, phone or in person at their County office. And never at their own home. This is voter intimidation: every voter has the right to ignore them and report it to the NYSBOE at 518-474-1953. We're calling on Attorney General James to investigate the organization and folks behind this spreading of misinformation, and look forward to working with the...
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Common Cause/NY Letter on Madison Square Garden’s Special Permit
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Common Cause/NY Encourages ALL 62 Counties Not to Buy the ExpressVote XL
"Common Cause/NY applauds New York City, Ulster, Onondaga and Chautauqua counties for prioritizing tax dollars and election security over below standard, expensive machines. We encourage all counties to follow their excellent example by not purchasing the ExpressVote XL. Paper ballots marked by the voter, which New York currently uses, are the election security gold standard, and it's entirely unnecessary to fix a problem that doesn't exist especially ahead of the 2024 presidential election year when election security remains a fraught topic....
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Let NY Vote, Electeds, Nat’l Voting Rights Groups, Demand NYSBOE Stop Certification of Flawed Voting Machines
"The New York State Board of Elections must reject the certification of the insecure voting machine, ExpressVote XL. Paper ballots marked by the voter -- which New York currently uses -- is the election security gold standard. We should not be spending taxpayer dollars on anything else. Next, lawmakers must pass legislation that bans hybrid machines like the ExpressVote XL for good."
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NYC Election Timeline: When to Expect Results
"Democracy takes time, and every vote counts. Accurate and fair election results are worth waiting for," said Susan Lerner, Board Chair of Rank the Vote NYC and Executive Director of Common Cause/NY. "Even if no one clears 50% on Election Day, we'll get the results in a comparable amount of time with none of the additional cost. Ranked choice voting affords voters more choice and more voice and puts power back in the hands of the people, delivering consensus majority winners every time. It's a win-win for voters."
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Common Cause/NY Applauds Senate For Passing Vote by Mail, Assembly Advances the Bill
"Common Cause/NY applauds the New York State Senate for passing this hugely important pro-voter reform that will establish a universal vote by mail system, and we're encouraged to see the Assembly advancing the bill as well. Allowing New Yorkers to vote by mail increases voter turnout in harder to reach populations, including young people and voters of color. We know vote by mail works: New York did it successfully in 2020 when faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a non-partisan, voting rights organization with decades of experience, Common...
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Common Cause/NY Pushes Lawmakers to Prioritize Voting Rights as Session Ends
"Lawmakers have an historic opportunity to pass legislation that will directly impact voters' lives and improve democracy ahead of 2024. From expanding absentee voting to allowing food and water on voting lines, the need is urgent: we can not rest on our laurels from years past. As we head into a Presidential election year, lawmakers must act now or New Yorkers will pay the price at the polls."
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New Yorkers: Don’t Forget to Rank in the Upcoming City Council Elections!
"In 2021, New Yorkers successfully voted in the largest ranked choice voting election in U.S. history!" said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY. "Now, New Yorkers can take advantage of ranked choice voting again and vote for their preferred City Council candidates. Ranked choice voting affords voters more choice and more voice and puts power back in the hands of the people, delivering consensus majority winners every time. That's the robust democracy we need right now."
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Common Cause/NY Applauds Assembly Judiciary Committee Vote to Repeal Constitutional Convention
"Common Cause/NY applauds the Assembly Judiciary Committee for passing the resolution that will repeal an centuries-old call for a federal constitutional convention. Extremists want to hold a constitutional convention because they want to curtail the federal government and roll back civil, labor, reproductive, and educational rights. Today's vote is one step closer to making sure that doesn't happen."
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Common Cause/NY: When State Contracts are Overly Broad New Yorkers Suffer
"Overly broad contracts, like the ones with Deloitte and Boston Consulting Group for both the State of the State and now the Excelsior Pass, allow the state to spend large amounts of taxpayer dollars on dubious projects. New Yorkers should know exactly how their money is being spent and the value they're getting for it – especially on work that is historically the purview of public sector employees, not profit-driven private sector firms."
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Common Cause/NY Statement on Percoco Ruling
"The Supreme Court's ruling on the Percoco case sets a terrible precedent that corruption is OK and that bad actors won't be held accountable for misusing public assets for personal gain. The every day New Yorker knows and sees that as corrupt. Our laws should too."