Assembly Passes Legislation to Change Fall 2018 State Primary Date to Ensure All New Yorkers are Able to Vote
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Assembly has passed legislation to require that the fall 2018 state primary be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018 to ensure that all New
Yorkers who choose to are able to participate in the electoral process (A.8917-A, Carroll).
Under the current political calendar, the fall 2018 state primary would fall on Tuesday, September 11, 2018. In addition to being the 17th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks and an important day of observance for many New Yorkers, it is also the second day of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. Therefore, due to religious observance of Rosh Hashanah, this date would be problematic for persons of the Jewish faith who wish to participate in the election.
"The Assembly Majority is committed to making sure that every New Yorker is able to exercise their right to vote," said Heastie. "By changing the date of this year's state primary, we can be certain we have taken the necessary steps to encourage voter participation across the state."
"Today's legislation helps us to ensure that our electoral system is fair to all New Yorkers," said Assemblymember Charles Lavine, chair of the Election Law Committee. "Voter participation is critical to the continued success of our democracy, which is why the Assembly Majority consistently pushes for policies that facilitate the voting process."
"This legislation helps to safeguard the inclusivity of our state's electoral process by being mindful of the needs of every New Yorker," said Assemblymember Carroll, sponsor of the bill. "September 11th is a significant day of remembrance and memorial for many New Yorkers and also coincides with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah."