WASHINGTON, DC – RITE has helped organize a coalition of voters, election officials, candidates, and national and New York-based political parties and committees to challenge New York Democrats’ unconstitutional expansion of the state’s absentee voting law, which Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law today. New York’s constitution has long limited absentee voting to those individuals unable to vote in person due to travel or physical limitations. Less than two years ago, New Yorkers voted to keep it that way. The “Early Mail Voter Act,” enacted by Albany Democrats, discards that choice in favor of a no-excuse absentee balloting regime in defiance of the Constitution and the express will of the people.
“Partisan lawmakers are brazenly attempting to circumvent the will of New Yorkers. Longstanding language in the New York state constitution clearly precludes universal absentee voting. And less than two years ago, New Yorkers overwhelmingly rejected an effort to eliminate that language. The people of New York and their constitution must be the ultimate authority in determining how their state is governed. Attempts like this to subvert the will of the people undermine the very foundations of our democratic system. Winning this case will reinstate the voice of New Yorkers.”
-Derek Lyons, President and CEO of RITE
RITE helped organize and is supporting the coalition of organizations filing the lawsuit. The coalition includes the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, the NYGOP, and the New York Conservative Party.
ABOUT RITE
Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE) works to preserve elections as the democratic voice of the people. RITE supports litigation to stop a well-funded network of activists from using the courts to undermine elections and democracy. RITE’s work protects democratically enacted election laws from attack and abuse by partisan actors and officials working to threaten or dilute the right of qualified citizens to vote.