Democrats run New York City and New York State. Is that good for democracy?
- “Independence” and “Independent” party is now illegal in New York.
- Third party ballot access suppressed by the Governor Cuomo in 2020.
- Third party names may no longer have a column on its own, and could have those names removed administratively.
- Voters rejected “no question asked” absentee ballot in 2021, but Governor Hochul brought in back in 2023, and renamed in Mail-In Ballot.
- New York’s Congressional lines were drawn by a Special Master in 2022. Democrats hated that 4 Congressional seats were flipped, so it asked the State courts to redraw it.
I recommend 1. Open Elections (anyone can vote in a primary); 2. Recall (citizens can petition for a new election); 3. Redistricting be done truly independently without politicians involved; 4. To avoid fraud, voter can freeze absentee ballot request; 5. Voter can vote in-person by machine even if an absentee ballot was requested or returned; 6. Petitioning signature requirement is halved if Assembly district is halved; 7. Both petition signer and subscribing witness could sign another petition, designating and independent; 8 Blockchain voting; 9. “None of the above” (Leonard Popkin) vote box; 10. Pictures and selfies of personal ballot be deemed legal; 11. A simple ED deviation report of registered voters and votes to catch anomalies.
Wagner v. Elasser, 194 A.D.3d 891 Election Law § 6–134, setting forth rules for designating petitions, states that its provisions “shall be liberally construed, not inconsistent with substantial compliance thereto and the prevention of fraud” ( id. § 6–134[10] ).
If multiple coversheets or amended coversheets for a candidate are filed, the last coversheet (or amended coversheet) filed shall be controlling. Simultaneous filings may be invalidated. Murray v Simon, 1194 AD3d 894 (2d Dept. 2021) Ariola v Maio, 195 AD3d 888 (2d Dept. 2021).
“As this Court has repeatedly stated, an issue raised for the first time on appeal is not properly before this Court” Matter of Maio v McNamara, 180 AD3d 965, 967 (2d Dept. 2020).