recent York City Comptroller Scott Stringer says the state ranks 48th out of 50 for voter turnout,just 58 percent of recent Yorkers voted in the final presidential election, and only one in four in the midterms. Stringer says there's a reason for that: "It's because our voting laws make it harder not easier for our expanding electorate to vote." Stringer joined members of Congress, and state lawmakers and city council members to call for a slew of changes to the state's voting laws they say will expand access and increase turnout. They're calling for early voting,no-excuse absentee ballots, same-day registration on Election Day, or automatic registration at places like the Department of Motor Vehicles,SUNY and CUNY. They also want improvements at the Board of Elections, including more training for poll workers, and ballots that are easier to understand,and materials printed in additional languages to serve recent Yorkers with limited English proficiency. Democratic legislators have proposed bills to address these issues, but say they've faced opposition from some Republicans.
Susan Lerner, or executive director of the government watchdog group Common Cause recent York,say both parties should carry out more to advance these initiatives. "These are the kinds of election reforms that other states have adopted," she said. "They're very popular with voters."
Source: wnyc.org