On Thursday, New York’s highest court ruled that most odd-year elections outside New York City will transition to even years, leading a prominent Republican official to accuse Democrats of manipulating the electoral process.
In a unanimous ruling, the Court of Appeals rejected a challenge from GOP-led counties against legislation passed by the Democratic-majority state legislature that requires nearly all local elections outside of the Big Apple to occur in even years.
Democrats advocated for this change to synchronize local elections with midterm and presidential elections, aiming to boost voter participation for these local offices.
“Aligning local elections with the state and federal schedules makes it easier for New Yorkers to engage in government. As voting rights face challenges nationwide, New York proudly moves in the opposite direction,” stated Governor Kathy Hochul.
Conversely, Republicans contend that altering the election schedule dilutes the focus on local issues and is a tactic to bolster Democratic chances in elections with typically lower turnout.
“Albany Democrats will do whatever it takes to manipulate the rules in their favor. They fail to win local elections based on the pressing issues that affect our communities, so they continuously attempt to rig the game,” remarked Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Dutchess), the ranking member of the Assembly Elections Committee.
The decision was penned by Judge Michael Garcia, appointed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is recognized as one of the more moderate voices on the court.
