By Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
REDISTRICTING
Onondaga County: Court Orders Legislature to Redraw County Legislative Districts Map
On September 24th, a State Supreme Court Judge in Onondaga County ordered the county legislature to redraw the county legislative map originally redrawn in 2022 following the 2020 census. The county legislature failed to follow the state’s new Municipal Home Rule requirement that district populations not exceed an overall 5% … <Read More>
By Jeff Wice with Ahmed Hussein, Jordan Karpoff & Alexis Marking
REDISTRICTING & VOTING RIGHTS ACT LITIGATION
Orange County:Clarke et al. v. Town of Newburgh
In January, three Black and three Hispanic residents of Newburgh filed this lawsuit, claiming the town’s at-large election system for Town Board elections has prevented Black and Hispanic residents from electing candidates of their choice, thus violating the N.Y. Voting Rights Act.
by Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature Rejects Another Map
The Orange County Legislature rejected another county legislative map proposal on August 1st on a 10-8 vote. The map would have advanced to the public hearing stage if the county legislature voted affirmatively. Legislators objected to a map developed by the legislature’s redistricting subcommittee that confirmed with the state’s redistricting criteria and voting rights act. Legislators complained that they needed … <Read More>
By Jeff Wice and Alexis Marking
EARLY VOTING
N.Y.S. Court of Appeals to Hear Early Voting Challenge Appeal Tomorrow
The state’s highest court will hear arguments tomorrow at 11:00 AM in Stefanik v. Hochul, an appeal challenging the state’s new law permitting voters to mail-in their ballots during the early voting periods. You can watch the oral arguments here: https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/live.html
BALLOT PROPOSALS
Equal Rights Amendment Back on New York’s November Ballot
On Tuesday, … <Read More>
By Jeff Wice and Alexis Marking
VOTING RIGHTS
Attorney General To Intervene in Cheektowaga Voting Rights Act Challenge
New York State Attorney General Letitia James has informed the Erie County State Supreme Court that her office will intervene in the state voting rights act challenge filed against the Town of Cheektowaga over town board vote dilution. In that case, the town is challenging the constitutionality of the New York … <Read More>
On April 5, 2024, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released a report about monitoring of New York City’s capital projects. His report found that projects often run over the initial budget and past the estimated timeline, suggesting that better monitoring could save City resources.