Press Release
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.”
Press
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Advocates and elected officials, including Brooklyn Borough President and mayoral-hopeful Eric Adams, have been pushing the city Board of Elections since February to undertake a serious public education effort to inform voters on the new voting method. At a February news conference in front of the board's office in Lower Manhattan, Adams, along with Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel of Brooklyn, and Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause NY, called for the city to allocate $10 million for the effort.
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"The June primary election was unprecedented, but democracy does not pause, it adapts," said Susan Lerner, executive director of the good government group Common Cause New York, in a press statement from the coalition, which is comprised of over 175 organizations. "New York lawmakers must prioritize planning for the November election today. The Boards of Elections need ample time to prepare for the Presidential Election to guarantee that all votes count."
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"The deadline is crucial in order to make sure that the Board can purchase the necessary upgrades to the existing voting machines for ranked-choice voting," said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York.
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That is especially significant at a time when the pandemic has disrupted the normal operations of the state legislature, said Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner, a good-government advocate.
“What we’re seeing is extraordinary consolidation of power by the governor and acquiescence by the legislature that undercuts our entire system of checks and balances,” Ms. Lerner said in an interview. “Without the normal appointment process, there’s no way to have any oversight or accountability.”
“What we’re seeing is extraordinary consolidation of power by the governor and acquiescence by the legislature that undercuts our entire system of checks and balances,” Ms. Lerner said in an interview. “Without the normal appointment process, there’s no way to have any oversight or accountability.”
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“Democracy doesn’t pause, it adapts. While the governor continues to triage the COVID crisis, the Legislature must take advantage of existing technologies to continue doing the people’s business remotely,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY. “Public services is a matter of moral leadership, and New Yorkers need our elected representatives to commit to staying in remote session now more than ever.”
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Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, said the state needs to expand early voting and streamline the process for absentee voting to ensure elections are held fairly and safely.
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“Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin was an avoidable travesty that need not occur in New York. With foresight and planning, like expanding absentee voting and increasing early voting days and poll sites, voters will be able to exercise their democratic rights without risking their lives,” Sarah Goff, the deputy director of Common Cause New York told Spectrum News.
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Common Cause/NY, a reform group, backed legislation advanced by Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-the Bronx, to make it easier for New Yorkers to qualify for absentee voting. The group also recommended New York double the number of early voting days from nine to 18 to increase voter participation.
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Common Cause wants to make sure what happened in Wisconsin doesn’t happen in New York. Deputy Director of Common Cause NY Sarah Goff says New York should expand early voting from 9 to 18 days, and increase access to absentee ballots, but also ensure voters who choose to cast ballots in person can do so. “With more time to vote and additional poll sites, we’re confident that we can disperse voters, reduce density, protect public health, and meet the goal of holding our elections safely and securely,” said Goff.
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Executive Director of Common Cause/NY Susan Lerner says though the Governor has been issuing plenty of executive orders, that can’t be the only way the state goes about its business…
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Common Cause of New York, a good government group that’s urged easier voter participation amid the pandemic, cheered Cuomo’s decision in a tweet Wednesday, but said the Legislature should provide wider access in statute. “This is a great start, however, New York cannot be ruled by executive order alone,” the group tweeted. “New York lawmakers must continue to hold a remote session to pass legislation that will protect New York voters forever.”
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Common Cause, an election watchdog group, applauded the Cuomo’s action, but said the state should expand absentee by law, not just a governor’s executive order, which is easily undone. “This is a great start, however, New York cannot be ruled by executive order alone,” the group wrote on Twitter. It has been urging lawmakers to continue the 2020 legislative session by convening remotely rather than adjourning because of the pandemic.