Changes Maybe Coming to the New York State Constitution

The 2021 New York State General Election might be more important than some may think and there are at least 5 good reasons that you should plan to vote this year.

This election year is turning out to be a pretty important one. In addition to all of the state, county, and local level offices, like Buffalo Mayor, that are up for election this year; there are a number of proposals to change the New York State Constitution that may mark some significant changes to laws and rules that have an impact on our lives.

According to the New York State Board of Elections, there are 5 statewide ballot proposals that will give us citizens an additional opportunity to say how our state is governed. These proposals, if passed, would amend the New York State Constitution. Depending on the individual proposal, there may be some changes to your day-to-day life.

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• Ballot Proposal Number 1: Amending the Apportionment and Redistricting Process:
  • This proposed constitutional amendment would freeze the number of state senators at 63, amend the process for the counting of the state’s population, delete certain provisions that violate the United States Constitution, repeal and amend certain requirements for the appointment of the co-executive directors of the redistricting commission and amend the manner of drawing district lines for congressional and state legislative offices.
• Ballot Proposal Number 2: Right to Clean Air, Clean Water, and a Healthful Environment
  • The proposed amendment to Article I of the New York Constitution would establish the right of each person to clean air and water and a healthful environment.
• Ballot Proposal Number 3: Eliminating Ten-Day-Advance Voter Registration Requirement
  • The proposed amendment would delete the current requirement in Article II, § 5 that a citizen be registered to vote at least ten days before an election and would allow the Legislature to enact laws permitting a citizen to register to vote less than ten days before the election.
• Ballot Proposal Number 4: Authorizing No-Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting
  • The proposed amendment would delete from the current provision on absentee ballots the requirement that an absentee voter must be unable to appear at the polls by reason of absence from the county or illness or physical disability.
• Ballot Proposal Number 5: Increasing the Jurisdiction of the New York City Civil Court
  • The proposed amendment would increase the New York City Civil Court’s jurisdiction by allowing it to hear and decide claims for up to $50,000 instead of the current jurisdictional limit of $25,000.

So on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, please make sure you flip over your ballot and vote on these amendments to the state constitution. You can find more information about these proposals on the New York State Elections website.