Statement from Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris On Governor’s Support for Absentee Ballot Reforms
January 8, 2021
NEW YORK – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris released the following statement on Governor Cuomo’s announcement he will include some absentee ballot reforms proposed by Senator Gianaris as part of his State of the State agenda:
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, "As our Democratic supermajority continues to reform the way elections are run, fixing our latest-in-the-nation vote counting status will go a long way towards restoring faith in election results. I am proud to have authored this important legislation so we are never again still counting votes into the new year."
Senator Gianaris has authored the legislation to enact two of the reforms mentioned by the Governor:
Earlier Counting of Absentee Ballots: S.1027 which would require absentee ballots to be canvassed prior to Election Day with results to be announced after polls close on election night.
Earlier Processing of Absentee Ballot Applications: S.516, which would require absentee ballot applications to be processed and approved faster pursuant to a specific rolling calendar.
