Cuomo Signs Law that Allows NY Voters to Request Absentee Ballots Online

     New Yorkers who wanted to cast their votes via absentee ballots previously had to appear in person, mail, or fax their local Board of Elections offices, however, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a new law that allows residents to request absentee ballots online.

    As part of the governor’s efforts to further encourage New Yorkers to vote by adding more convenience and flexibility, he also signed a law that allows absentee ballots to be postmarked up until Election Day, rather than having to be mailed in seven days before voters head to the polls. 

      Although many advocates are pleased to see the New York legislature prioritizing election reform, some critics feel New York also needs to allow voters to register to vote on the same day as elections.

     While New York continues to expand voter access, 17 other states across the country have enacted, this year, more restrictive voting laws, such as shortening the lengths of time in which people can case their votes and reducing same-day voter registration accessibility.

    “Voting has obviously become one of the hot button political issues,” Glynda C. Carr, who is the CEO and co-founder of Higher Heights for America, a voting advocacy group, told Pix11. “Not only are we fighting to maintain the very voting rights that Americans fought for during the Civil Rights Movement, in fact, we’re rolling them even further back.”