NYC Votes Coalition Asks Albany to Adopt #VoteBetterNY Agenda

New York has a voter participation problem. Just 29% of New York’s registered voters turned out to the polls during the 2014 mid-term elections. New York’s low turnout matches a national trend: voter participation across the country was the lowest it has been since 1942.

However, the national turnout data suggests that more New Yorkers will vote if we make it easier for them to do so. Six states – Maine, Wisconsin, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Minnesota – enjoyed turnout rates in 2014 above 50 percent. While there are many reasons why turnout may be higher in any given election (competitive elections is certainly an important factor), it is not an accident that turnout was higher in these states. All six have mail-in voting or early in-person voting.

NYC Votes believes it’s time to make voting easier in New York. On Wednesday, NYC Votes will lead a broad coalition of partners to Albany for our second annual #VoteBetterNY Advocacy Day. Our voting reform advocates will ask legislators to bring New York’s elections into the 21st century. Our 2015 agenda focuses on broad, common sense reforms:

• Online Voter Registration: We have a pen-and-paper voter registration system that is stuck in the 19th century. It’s time we bring voter registration into the 21st century. We do so many things online, from banking to paying bills to buying our groceries. Registering to vote should be no different. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 21 states currently offer online voter registration. (Bills: A05564/S00859)

• Better Ballot Design:Poor ballot design not only frustrates voters and causes problems on the day of an election, it’s the reason why thousands of votes are “lost or miscast” during every election cycle. In New York, specifically, the 2010 elections saw thousands of votes invalidated because of ‘over votes’ or the incorrect selection of multiple candidates. (Bills: A03389; A05622/S02154)

• Early Voting:New York is one of just 15 states that does not allow voters to cast a ballot prior to Election Day without providing an excuse. In 2012, nearly one-third of U.S. voters opted to cast their ballots prior to Election Day. Advantages include avoiding long lines at the polls, and the flexibility of voting on the weekend.

Other possible reforms, in addition to our #VoteBetterNY agenda, have helped increase voter participation in other parts of the country (and the world). Check out what other states and countries are doing to make it easier for citizens to participate in the democratic process.

• Pre-registration of 16 and 17 Year Olds: The NCSL lists 22 states that allow teens to register to vote prior to turning 18 and automatically adds them to the voter rolls on their 18^th birthday. Pre-registration is a practical, proactive way to encourage participation and turnout among the youngest voters.

• Vote by Mail:The desire for convenience permeates every facet of our modern-day lives and the act of voting should be no different. Mail-in voting allows voters to cast their ballot from the comfort of their own home, ensuring they have ample time to review their choices and make an informed decision. Colorado, Oregon and Washington have all converted to universal vote-by-mail systems. During the 2014 mid-term elections, voter turnout in those states exceeded the national average.

• Compulsory Voting:While many Americans are passing up their right to vote, some countries don’t give their citizens that option. Australia and 13 other countries have compulsory voting laws. Since 1924, Australians have been mandated to “mark a ballot” in federal elections. Those who do not comply are subject to a small fine. Australia boasts a 95 percent voter participation rate.

In light of the varied steps being taken to modernize and encourage voting around the country, New York must not be left behind. NYC Votes’ #VoterBetterNY Advocacy Day is an opportunity to convey the importance of these issues to our lawmakers and place election reform at the top of their legislative agenda.

Simply put, 29% voter participation is not good enough. Let your state legislator know where you stand by tweeting your support for election reform to #VoteBetterNY today. Ready, set, tweet!

Time to make voting in #NewYork easier with online registration, better ballots, and early voting. #VoteBetterNY