A coalition of New York Republican lawmakers is contesting legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) on Wednesday that expands early voting by mail.
In a series of 10 new election bills, Hochul empowered any registered New York voter to cast an early ballot by mail. State Republicans filed a lawsuit against the measure, with House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) leading the charge. The lawsuit states the new rules would remove regulation on mass mail ballots, arguing it’s against the state Constitution.
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BREAKING NEWS: I will always stand up for election integrity for NYers which is why today I filed a lawsuit against Kathy Hochul with members of the NY Delegation, @GOP, @NRCC, @NewYorkGOP, and @cpny challenging the unconstitutional unregulated mass mail ballots in New York… pic.twitter.com/SJLe9H5gTq
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) September 20, 2023
“Kathy Hochul and extreme New York Democrats are trying to destroy what is left of election integrity in New York,” Stefanik said. “Under Kathy Hochul’s failed leadership, elections are less secure and less transparent and now they will be unconstitutional.”
Republicans cite New York voters' rejection of a ballot measure in 2021 that was heavily backed by Democrats. The failed constitutional amendment would have allowed universal absentee voting in elections, removing the language in the state constitution that bars no-excuse absentee voting. New York voters also shot down another ballot proposal that would have permitted same-day voter registration.
“Although New Yorkers had voted for many expansions of mail voting in the past, they decided that this proposal went too far,” the complaint reads, referring to the 2021 measure titled Authorizing No-Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple states, including New York, offered a simplified method for receiving an absentee ballot. The New York legislature and Democratic leaders have been working to make those changes permanent. In announcing the new law, which will take effect at the beginning of 2024, Hochul acknowledged legal battles are expected.
"It's finally time to allow people to vote by mail," Hochul said Wednesday at a press conference. "Why not? What is so sinister? Why would this be attacked? What are you afraid of?"
We are further cementing New York’s place as a national leader on voting rights.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 20, 2023
By safeguarding the integrity of our electoral process and ensuring equal access to the ballot box, we empower every New Yorker to have their voice heard. pic.twitter.com/s0B33N9jB1
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Stefanik, along with the Republican National Committee, New York Republican State Committee, Conservative Party of New York State, and others, attacked the mail-in legislation for defying the voters' requests.
“The Mail-Voting Law was enacted by the Legislature in open and knowing defiance of Article II, § 2, ignoring and subverting the will of the People whom the Legislature is supposed to Represent,” the complaint states.