Narrative of Resolution:
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Urge the Governor to Veto A. 4282B and S.3505B to move certain local elections to even-numbered years
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WHEREAS, the Sullivan County Legislature believes that increasing participation in the election process and reducing costs of government operations is good for our republic, and
WHEREAS, both A.4282B and S.3505B legislation was reintroduced that would move local elections to even-number years during the 2023 Legislative Session; and
WHEREAS, versions of this legislation were introduced in previous years and failed to reach the floor for a vote due to a lack of support, and
WHEREAS, this legislation usurps the Home Rule powers reserved by local governments and protected by the Constitution of the State of New York, raising questions of legality and constitutional authority, and
WHEREAS, local municipalities have had the ability to change their elections to even number years for decades and chose not to do so, and
WHEREAS, this legislation excludes more than half of all New Yorkers who vote in cities and villages from the changes to the election law, creating an inequity among New York voters, and
WHEREAS, this legislation unfairly excludes the elections to offices in New York City and all other cities and villages in New York State, as well as certain offices within all counties and towns, and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation circumvented the legislative committee process during this session, limiting public input and understanding of the impacts, and
WHEREAS, there has been no financial analysis or operational analysis of the impacts on local Boards of Elections, and
WHEREAS, there are concerns that the current election and ballot counting technology would not be able to adequately meet the demands of the significantly increased ballot size, and
WHEREAS, this will create confusion amongst voters in towns and counties across New York State, and
WHEREAS, moving local elections to even-numbered years would increase the cost of campaigns for local office, reducing the number of candidates willing to invest funds into their own campaign, because the cost of media will increase to compete with national and state level campaign advertisements, and
WHEREAS, there are significant legal and constitutional questions regarding the legality of this measure that have not been adequately addressed;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sullivan County Legislature urges the Governor to oppose this legislation, A.4282B and S.3505B and utilize her veto authority to reject this proposal.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be distributed by the Clerk to the Sullivan County Legislature to Governor Kathy Hochul, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Senator Peter Oberacker and the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC).
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