Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Voter Empowerment Act

Voter Empowerment Act

  • Now’s the Time for Automatic Voter Registration in New York

    primary voting parkslope

    (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)


    Over the last several decades, 15 states across the country – both red and blue – have modernized their voting laws, including our neighbors in New Jersey and Massachusetts. Unfortunately, here in New York we remain mired in the past, refusing to implement reforms to fix the state’s poor electoral system and erecting arbitrary barriers to voter participation.

    The results are clear: New York routinely has some of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country. In 2018, ...

  • Fixing City's 'Non-Functioning' Board of Elections Relies on State

    de Blasio voting 2016

    Mayor de Blasio votes (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    Many eyes will be on the New York City Board of Elections come Tuesday as New Yorkers head to the polls for the second time this year, casting their votes in congressional primaries. The first election, April’s presidential primaries, was so problematic it prompted multiple city and state authorities to launch investigations into

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