Hochul signs new voting protections legislation package

August 7, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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STATEWIDE — GOVERNOR HOCHUL ON Tuesday signed a set of new laws focused on strengthening voting rights across the state, in commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, according to a press release. The governor said the move is intended to expand and secure access to the ballot for all voters. The seven new laws will allow voters who will be 18 by Election Day to apply for absentee and early ballots, speed up the process of curing ballot defects, standardize candidate ordering on ballots, bring the state into compliance with the federal Electoral Count Reform Act, allow most state attorneys to serve as poll watchers, make some technical changes to town elections, and clarify certain parts of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York.

Assemblymember Latrice M. Walker stated, “The bill signing… is a lasting tribute to people like the late Rep. John R. Lewis, who fought so hard to protect our precious right to vote.”

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