by Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
ELECTIONS
State Board of Elections Sued Over the Equal Rights Amendment’s Ballot Language
A new law enacted last year requires ballot language for voter referendum questions in New York State to be written in plain language at “no higher than an eighth-grade reading level.” The ballot language for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was approved to appear on the November ballot, has … <Read More>
by Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature Rejects Another Map
The Orange County Legislature rejected another county legislative map proposal on August 1st on a 10-8 vote. The map would have advanced to the public hearing stage if the county legislature voted affirmatively. Legislators objected to a map developed by the legislature’s redistricting subcommittee that confirmed with the state’s redistricting criteria and voting rights act. Legislators complained that they needed … <Read More>
By Jeff Wice and Alexis Marking
REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature Advances New Map
On a 5 to 2 vote last week, the Orange County Legislature’s Rules Committee approved a draft map for new county legislative districts that will be sent to the public for comment. The meeting follows a June meeting when several members walked out, preventing the committee from taking earlier action. The public comment period runs from August 2 – August 16 … <Read More>
By Jeff Wice and Alexis Marking
VOTING RIGHTS
Mt. Pleasant: Town Board Challengers Ask For Court Conference
Attorneys for the voters challenging Westchester County’s town board over vote dilution issues under the state’s voting rights act have asked Judge David Everett of Westchester County State Supreme Court to schedule a conference to resolve a dispute between the challengers and the town’s Industrial Development Agency. The challengers argue that the agency needs to provide more … <Read More>
By Jeff Wice and Alexis Marking
VOTING RIGHTS
Attorney General To Intervene in Cheektowaga Voting Rights Act Challenge
New York State Attorney General Letitia James has informed the Erie County State Supreme Court that her office will intervene in the state voting rights act challenge filed against the Town of Cheektowaga over town board vote dilution. In that case, the town is challenging the constitutionality of the New York … <Read More>
REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature Fails to Advance New Map
The Orange County Legislature failed to advance three county legislative draft maps to the public hearing stage after a meeting on July 26th lost its quorum of legislators necessary to move the maps to the next stage. The county needs to have a new map in place before petitioning for the 2025 primary gets underway next year.