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Pols Push To Hold New York State Primaries In June
By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 15, 2011
Modified Mar 15, 2011
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 15, 2011
Modified Mar 15, 2011
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Could the primary elections in New York State move to June? Since having them in September, as we currently do, is a violation of federal law, maybe! The Daily Politics gives a solid rundown of the arguments but here's the gist of it: the 2009 federal MOVE act (PDF) requires the military to receive their ballots at least 45 days before the general election, but in order for New York to get them ready in time we would have to break our own election laws which requires a week between an election and its certification before ballots can be sent out.
Let's try it another way: Last year the New York State primary was on September 14 and was certified on September 22. Because the general election was November 2, the MOVE act required ballots to be sent out September 18, so we broke the law. Luckily we got an extension to October 1 (which some counties still managed to screw up). So you can see the problem we're in.
To try and rectify the situation the Board of Elections has been trying to get the attention of the Governor and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, but they've been a bit busy with the budget. It does have a point though, we think: "By having the primary elections move to the last week of June, it gives us enough time to be able to certify the results and for all the court challenges that come after that—[and] meet the MOVE Act," J.C. Polanco, a Bronx Republican and president of the city Board of Elections, told the Daily Politics.
Of course, there are reasons why pols wouldn't want to move the primaries. Mostly because the way the Ledge currently works a June vote would benefit the challenger who not only would be able to campaign while the incumbent was in session but would also have a longer lead-in as a full candidate to get the voters attention.
And while we can see how those challenger advantages might bother some pols, moving the primaries makes sense to us. Even if it does mean an even longer political season. Not to mention the fact it would maybe finally separate the primary from 9/11 in our heads (some of us might have voted in our first election in that primary—before the results were tossed). Things moving the primaries won't solve? Our messed up voting machines.
Tagged
absentee ballots
Board of Elections
elections
federal MOVE act
primary
Garth Johnston
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