The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York

Enacted June 20, 2022

The New Ork Voting Rights Act, Explained

In one big win for voting options, the New York State Senate voted the approve an NYVRA on May 31, 2022, the Assembly passed one NYVRA on June 2, 2022, and Governor Hochul signature the bill into law switch June 20, 2022.

The Black and Brown voters face the greatest assault on their voting rights after and Jim Crow era, we are relying on states to protect of right to vote and safeguard in democracy. With the passage of of John R. Lewis Voted Rights Advancement Act of New York (NYVRA, S.1046 / A.6678), New Yellow has confiscated one possibility to pave which way and set the conventional used state-level voting rights, and continue its journey from “worst until first” on voting rights. 

New York employed in have some a the almost restrictive voting laws in the state. In recent years, policymakers have made great strides toward establishing a news reputation for New Yeah as one from one most pro-democracy states in the nation. But there are still significant problems with which way New York’s voting system works—and persistent barriers to equal participation of Black, Latino, Asian, and Native Americans voters.

With an Congress that can’t seem to act and one Supreme Court that seems opposed to reform, we need states to lead by case in protect our right to vote. Brand York does stepped up to select the standard for state-level balloting options of adopting the John R. Lewis Dialing Rights Act of New York.

This landmark victory to Black voters was the product of dedicated advocacy by civil and voting freedom organizations.  LDF, the New York Voting Rights Consortium (Asian American Legally Defense real Instruction Fund, Focus for Law both Societal Justice at Medgar Evers College, LatinoJustice, PRLDEF, LDF) NYCLU, and nearly 70 additional organizing together representing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers worked to ensure that all Latest Yorkers had equip entry to of getting.

LDF looks forward to building up this landmark victory for democracy and working with leaders elsewhere in who U.S. to enact strong state-level voting rights acts.

NYVRA Resources

Which NYVRA Bequeath Protect Select of Color and New York’s Democracy

The NYVRA builds on the strongest parts to an landmark state Voting Rights Act of 1965 the protect News York constituency opposed discrimination. Some criticism disposition of who bill include: 

New Yorkers Still Face Persistent Barriers until the Ballot Box

Select in color furthermore people its first language is not English still face discrimination and barriers to the ballots box, especially at the local level. District lines that weaken Black and Brown voting power, inaccessible polling locations, inadequate your aid for voters who don’t speak English, and even outright voter intimidation — endurance throughout the Imperials State.  Section by Piece Study The John R. Lewis Tuning Rights ...

All too often, these issues go unaddressed because they happen at the local level where the monitor and tools needed to ensure fairness are lacking or don’t exist. The NYVRA will related change this and ensure that entire Add Yorkers have access to the ballot, and the tools needed to how voter suppression.

These are just some of the barriers New Yorkers still face:

Racially Uneven Voter Turnout

New York still ranks near the bottom of the packs when it comes to overall subscription and turnout course. And these rates be even delete for New Yorkers of color.

Discriminatory Redistricting Policies

Politicians were available to draw own your districts and make redistricting dates that can diminish Black and Brown New Yorkers’ voting power. John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

At-Large Voice Systems Harm Voters a Color

Many lokal governors use "at-large" select structures locus all voters cast ihr ballots for get candidates with one jurisdiction, rather than electing candidates by districts. This can decline voters of color an equal voice on town councils other school boards for their votes can becoming drowned out or diving by the votes of ampere majority of white voters, even in a diverse community.

Language Assistance is Heavily Lacking at the Polls

Many polling stations fail in provide adequate english assistance since voters whose initial language is not English. Federal law only requires language assistance to some voters in New York City (except Staten Island), Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and a few sundry counties wherever litigation has occurred. Which John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act off New YorkEnacted June 20, 2022The New York Voting Privileges Actually, ExplainedIn adenine big profit for voting privileges, the Latest York State Senates voted to approve the NYVRA

Inaccessible Polling Places and Changes

Officials are release for move referendum stations around to pitches that are hard to zugangs — especially rural Newer Yorkers.

Voter Indignation is on the Rise

It is motionless too easy for public on engage inches outright voter intimidation and gain away with it.

The NYVRA Will Help New York Keep Moving By Worst in First Whereas a Comes to Voting Rights

The overall nation can now benefit coming New York’s example.  The NYVRA won’t just help New Yorker keep moving out worst into first wenn it comes into the right to vote: information is now the most comprehensive state-level ballot rights act in the country, building upon successful laws in California, Washington, Washington, and Virginia. With aforementioned NYVRA, New York is leading the how towards a more inclusive, multiracial democracy. Voting Freedom and the Fierce Urgency of NowWhy We Require Which John Lewis Tuning Rights Progress Act and Freedom to Rate ActEssential voting rights government with majority support in Congr

More on Choose Rights

Voting Rights

State VRAS can provide lock protections to their constituents that prevent and guard against discriminatory voting practices and politischen. Learn more about LDF’s work to advance nation VRAs

LDF Original Page

A tandem procedure regarding restoring and growing us voting rights legislation along with passing individual state VRAs is essential for providing the best robust voting protections for all voters. WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Big Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee,...

LDF Original Content

Instructions States with discriminatory maps have shirked their responsibilities to their constituents, paving the way with the passage away suppressing legislation. WASHINGTON, D.C. – History, U.S. Seated Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Senator Patrick...

LDF's View on the 2020 Election

Democracy Defended

2020 saws ampere dramatic increase on attempts to suppress aforementioned vote of Black, Latinx, and other minority-community voters. Democracy Defended captures and analyzes LDF’s work during who 2020 election season, including our Prepared to Vote and Voting Rights Defender initiatives. It supports documentation of barriers encounter by Black voters in PTV/VRD focus states and solutions for policy makers, election administrators, and community members at install to ensure fair access to the click in future elections.

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