Press Release
Voting Rights Groups to New Yorkers: Don’t Wait, Vote Early!
Launch nonpartisan Election Protection Program at polls in sensitive locations in New York City
Press
Media Contacts
Maya Majikas
East Regional Communications Strategist
mmajikas@commoncause.org
202-736-5708
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Asked what part of state election law needs the most tweaking, Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, a not-for-profit that focuses on voting rights, said, “It’s hard to pick just one.”
Lerner told the Herald Gazette that the Nassau County Board of Elections is particularly troublesome. “Nassau is one of the problem counties,” she said.
Lerner described the county board as “patronage driven,” referring to almost 20 positions on it that are filled by people — Republicans and...
Lerner told the Herald Gazette that the Nassau County Board of Elections is particularly troublesome. “Nassau is one of the problem counties,” she said.
Lerner described the county board as “patronage driven,” referring to almost 20 positions on it that are filled by people — Republicans and...
Press Release
Common Cause/NY and Advocates Call for Public Hearings on Sexual Harassment
Strong sexual harassment legislation requires input from experts, advocates, and those who have experienced sexual harassment themselves. New York State has not held a public hearing on sexual harassment since 1992.
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Common Cause New York is encouraging voters to make their voices heard, and promoting their 'Let New York Vote' campaign meant to expand voting accessibility and advocate for voter reform. The group's executive director, Susan Lerner, explains.
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At a press conference outside BOE headquarters on Thursday afternoon, Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause NY, said that her organization scrutinized the voter files from the primary after hearing from more than 100 people who experienced problems while trying to vote.
"We were shocked to find over 300 people who were able to vote in the Democratic Congressional primary in June, who are now mysteriously switched to being 'unaffiliated,' so there are a lot of answers we need," Lerner said.
"We were shocked to find over 300 people who were able to vote in the Democratic Congressional primary in June, who are now mysteriously switched to being 'unaffiliated,' so there are a lot of answers we need," Lerner said.
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“People who've only voted in New York think all the elections across the country are the same craziness,” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York. “They are not.”
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Susan Lerner with Common Cause said in a statement that “New Yorkers deserve better,” and she urged Cuomo to take the lead to close a loophole in the campaign finance laws that allow donors to use limited liability companies to skirt contribution limits, to ban outside income for lawmakers and to increase oversight over state economic development programs.
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But perhaps the most significant takeaway from yesterday's primary is that the bar for record-breaking, expectation-shattering turnout in New York remains stubbornly low. As Susan Lerner, the always on-brand executive director of Common Cause NY notes, a majority of eligible voters still did not vote in yesterday's primary, and an untold number of those who tried found their registrations mysteriously changed, if not entirely purged.
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“This is a perennial problem,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of voting rights organization Common Cause New York. “It’s very hard to maintain an active voter roll, but in New York City it’s particularly challenging because of the large number of voters, the way people move around readily and the fact systems are not user friendly.”
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With New Yorkers heading to the polls on Thursday for the gubernatorial primary, it’s a good time to reflect on the dreadful state of the supposedly progressive state’s voting laws. Despite a governor who pays lip service to the issue, New York seems determined to make it difficult for its citizens to cast ballots, forgoing the progress made in much of the rest of the country in recent years. Perhaps not coincidentally, New York has some of the lowest voting rates in America.
Daily Intelligencer spoke briefly with Susan...
Daily Intelligencer spoke briefly with Susan...
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"It's all about what's best for the two political parties," said Susan Lerner, executive director of the watchdog group Common Cause New York. "They have no concern for the voter."
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But perhaps the most illuminating moment of the night came when moderator Brian Lehrer handed the mic to Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner, who asked how the future attorney general should use the powers of the office to protect voting rights in the state. None of the candidates seemed ready with a coherent response (Teachout, who referenced the state's lawsuit over the voter purge in Brooklyn last year, got closest.)
"I'm afraid not all the candidates answered the question that was asked," lamented Lerner.
"I'm afraid not all the candidates answered the question that was asked," lamented Lerner.
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How would Cynthia Nixon handle over $3 billion in discretionary economic development funds?
"If Cynthia Nixon were governor and she followed the Cuomo mold, she would basically have complete control over about $3 billion in economic development money," says Susan Lerner, the executive director of the good government group Common Cause New York. "It's not 20 percent of the budget, but it's still a lot of money."
"It's easy to say this is wrong, and we should have some accountability. Well, lay out the right way to...
"If Cynthia Nixon were governor and she followed the Cuomo mold, she would basically have complete control over about $3 billion in economic development money," says Susan Lerner, the executive director of the good government group Common Cause New York. "It's not 20 percent of the budget, but it's still a lot of money."
"It's easy to say this is wrong, and we should have some accountability. Well, lay out the right way to...