Issues: Elections

State Senator Michael Gianaris was named winner in "City and State", on November 9th, 2012.

There was no shortage of victories and losses this week, as voters cast their ballots for scores of candidates across the state and the government continued to grapple with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. From the North Country to Suffolk County, and President Obama on down, the Democrats’ triumphs added up. And though we won’t have a full account of the election’s champs and chumps until all the votes are counted and recounted, here they are: your winners and losers of the week.

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Gianaris-Kavanagh's Bill (Voter Empowerment Act) aims at facilitating the registration process and initiating more participation in the elections. It includes, among others, preregistration of 16- and 17- year olds, online registration of voters and  automatic registration tranfer of New Yorkers who move within the State.

State Senator Michael Gianaris (D–Astoria) emerged last week as part of a nonpartisan, statewide group answering Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call to increase voter participation as the 2012 election season draws near.

Gianaris and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh have introduced legislation that would amend the state’s election law to streamline and make more efficient the voter registration process in the state.

As reported by the New York Daily News: 

Queens voters and lawmakers are scratching their heads over a series of poll site changes for the Sept. 13 primary.

Voters say they have received multiple mailers from the city Board of Elections directing them to different polling sites.

In some cases, the new sites are far from their homes — presenting a challenge to elderly and disabled voters.

“I received a notice telling me to go to my regular polling place and then a week later another notice telling me to go to a school 10 blocks away,” said state Sen. Jose Peralta, whose office has been flooded with calls from voters. “I can walk but some seniors can’t travel that far. It’s an issue.”

Capital Tonight posted Senator Gianaris' radio interview, where he discusses how Senate Democrats will prepare to regain control of the Senate chamber.

Listen to the interview here.

An article by the Queens Gazette talks about the introduction of the Voter Empowerment Act, which aims to optimize the voter registration process in New York.

State Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law joined with good government and advocacy groups on June 7 to announce the introduction of the Voter Empowerment Act of New York, a nonpartisan initiative to increase voter participation as the 2012 election season commences. This legislation would amend the election law to update, streamline and make more efficient the voter registration process in New York.

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New America Media did a Question & Answer with Senator Gianaris in advance of his press conference announcing the Voter Empowerment Act of New York.

NAM: What is your national overview of the increasingly heated debate over voter suppression and voting rights at this point in America’s history?

According to a report by New America Media, new legislation that would modernize New York state's voter registration system could add one million voters to the rolls. Senator Gianaris is the co-sponsor of the legislation.

An estimated one million potential voters could be added to New York state’s rolls should forthcoming legislation be enacted, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, the co-sponsor of legislation that would modernize New York’s voter registration system, said his bill “will make it easier for people to vote.” He said he plans to introduce the bill by early June at the latest and, if adopted, it would take effect in 2013.