Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF, REF - Sag Harbor) announced that he helped pass a series of bills to make voting easier for more New Yorkers and help prevent wealthy special interests from having undue influence in political campaigns. The Assembly has passed election reform legislation year after year, leading the fight to expand voting opportunities and increase transparency. Now, with new leadership in the state Senate, there’s renewed hope that they’ll become law.

“Voting is not only the right of every American but also a hallmark of our values and our democracy. Yet, for far too many New Yorkers, voting is a difficult, exasperating experience,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “It’s time to reform some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country in an effort to ensure every voice is heard. With our new partners in the state Senate, we are poised to make good on our promise to New Yorkers and break down barriers to voting.”

Making voting easier and more accessible

To give New Yorkers ample opportunity to vote, the Assembly passed legislation that would establish early voting in New York State, which would take place during a nine-day period before any general, primary, run-off primary or special election (A.780). During the early voting period, polling locations would be required to be open for eight hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends and holidays, and to offer evening hours on at least two days. County boards of elections would have the option of providing additional early voting hours and would be required to publicize to voters the location, dates and hours of all early voting polling places within each county.

“Balancing work and family obligations is hard enough as it is – finding time to make it out to the polls on a specific portion of one day can be difficult or impossible,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “An important part of getting more folks involved in our democracy is making it convenient for them to participate, and this is a big step in the right direction.”

To increase access to mail-in ballots at home, the legislative package includes a bill that would amend the New York State Constitution to allow any citizen to receive an absentee ballot upon request – no questions asked (A.778). Under current law, residents can only receive absentee ballots if they expect to be absent from the county on the day of the election, or if they have an illness or physical disability. The amendment must be passed by both the Assembly and Senate in consecutive legislative terms before it goes before voters as a ballot referendum.

Modernizing voter registration

Further, the Assembly passed legislation to allow for same-day voter registration, a practice already adopted by 17 other states and Washington, D.C.[1] The bill would amend the state constitution by removing the requirement that New Yorkers register to vote at least 10 days before an election (A.777).

Legislation was also passed instructing boards of elections to automatically transfer voter enrollment for New Yorkers who move from one county to another (A.775). And, to encourage young people to vote and become civically engaged, the legislative package includes a measure that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote (A.774).

Combining the state and federal primaries

Once again, the Assembly passed legislation to consolidate the state’s election calendar by combining the state and federal primary election dates to the fourth Tuesday in June (A.779). This would save taxpayers an estimated $25 million, reduce the burden on county boards of elections and keep New York State compliant with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act. Further, holding both primaries on the same date would make it easier for New Yorkers to vote, increasing voter turnout, concluded Assemblyman Thiele. Currently, New York is the only state that holds its federal and state primaries on different days.[2]

“Voting gives New Yorkers a chance to help determine the direction of their communities, our state and our nation,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “The process should be as convenient and accessible as possible.”

Closing the LLC loophole

Under current election law as interpreted by the State Board of Elections, individuals and corporations can make unlimited contributions to the same candidate, political party or campaign committee by creating multiple limited liability companies (LLCs). Each LLC is treated as an individual donor, even if multiple LLCs are owned by the same person or entity, which makes it harder to determine the real contributor and allows them to evade campaign contribution limits.

The Assembly’s measure would extend the $5,000 aggregate contribution limit, already applicable to corporations, to include LLCs, and require LLCs to disclose the names of individuals with membership interests, attributing LLC contributions to them in proportion to such membership interest (A.776). By closing the LLC loophole, we can increase transparency, help level the playing field and prevent nearly unlimited campaign contributions, noted Assemblyman Thiele.

“For far too long, pay-to-play politics and special interests have drowned out the voices of everyday New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “Let’s close the LLC loophole once and for all and make sure everyone plays by the same rules.”
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