By Jeff Wice, Alexis Marking and Jordan Karpoff
N.Y. 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, in violation of the N.Y. Voting Rights Act.
by Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature to Hold Public Hearing Tomorrow
The Orange County Legislature will hear from the public tomorrow at a public hearing for comment on a draft county legislative map to be used beginning in the 2025 county legislative elections. The hearing will take place in the county legislature’s chambers at 255 Main Street in Goshen, NY starting at 5:00 PM. The hearing can be viewed … <Read More>
by Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
ELECTIONS
State Board of Elections Sued Over the Equal Rights Amendment’s Ballot Language
A new law enacted last year requires ballot language for voter referendum questions in New York State to be written in plain language at “no higher than an eighth-grade reading level.” The ballot language for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was approved to appear on the November ballot, has … <Read More>
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
REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature Advances New Map
On a 5 to 2 vote last week, the Orange County Legislature’s Rules Committee approved a draft map for new county legislative districts that will be sent to the public for comment. The meeting follows a June meeting when several members walked out, preventing the committee from taking earlier action. The public comment period runs from August 2 – August 16 … <Read More>
REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature Fails to Advance New Map
The Orange County Legislature failed to advance three county legislative draft maps to the public hearing stage after a meeting on July 26th lost its quorum of legislators necessary to move the maps to the next stage. The county needs to have a new map in place before petitioning for the 2025 primary gets underway next year.