Take Action! It’s Time to Fully Fund Redistricting and Elections
Contact your Assembly Member and Senator and Urge them to Fund New Democracy Initiatives!
Last week, the two houses released their budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. Both houses have proposed new funding for New York’s first Independent Redistricting Commission and the implementation and expansion of new voting policies.
The Assembly proposed $7 million in funding for the Independent Redistricting Commission while the Senate has proposed $4 million for the Commission.
The Assembly and Senate have also added new funding for implementation of elections policies. The Senate budget recommends providing an additional $4 million for the expansion of early voting initiatives. The Assembly included an additional $30 million for implementing new policies; with at least $23.5 million targeted to county boards of elections and $6.5 million for the State Board.
As you can see, these budget proposals do not match. One-house budgets allow the Assembly and Senate to negotiate their final proposal with the Executive Chamber. In order for funding allocations to make it into the final state budget, we need the help of our members and the public to contact their Legislators and let them know why funding for redistricting and elections matters to them!
Without new funding, our Independent Redistricting Commission will be unable to fulfill its constitutional mandate to draw fair legislative districts for State Legislative and Congressional lines. County boards of elections will also be unable to fulfil new state laws to expand early voting and absentee voting without a new investment of state funding.
Help us ensure the Independent Redistricting Commission and County and State Boards of Elections receive these critical funds by contacting your Assembly Members and Senator and urging them to fund the democracy reforms in the FY 2021-2022 budget!
Assembly Switchboard: 518-455-4100
Senate Switchboard: 518-455-2800
Sample Phone Script/Email:
Hello,
I am calling/emailing the Senator/Assembly Member today to urge them to support funding for early voting and no-excuse absentee voting and the new Independent Redistricting Commission in the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget.
Over the last several years, the Legislature has made incredible improvements to our voting operations including allowing for early voting and greater access to absentee voting. These new policy reforms require an investment from the state in order to be fully realized. I urge the Legislator to support new funding in the budget for the implementation and expansion of early voting and no-excuse absentee voting.
This year is also important because our legislative lines are being redrawn by an Independent Redistricting Commission. I urge the Legislator to ensure new funding is included in the budget for this Commission to do its work. These new funds should be independent of any other agency or entity so that the Commission is free from outside influence.
2021 is an exciting year for democracy reforms and I hope you will pass along my message to the Senator/Assembly Member to fully fund early voting and no-excuse absentee voting, and the Independent Redistricting Commission.
Thank you.
