New York voters adopted a constitutional right to clean air and water and expanded the jurisdiction of New York City civil courts but rejected a new redistricting process and voting laws yesterday.
With 15,450 of 15,554 election districts reporting, Ballot Proposition 1 failed, with 48 percent of voters voting no. The measure would have set the number of Senate districts at 63, changed the way people are counted in legislative and congressional election districts and changed the approval process for establishing new voting districts every 10 years. Thirty-eight percent voted in favor of the proposal and nearly 13 percent of voters left the question blank on their ballots.
With 15,518 of 15,622 election districts reporting, voters overwhelmingly passed Proposal 2, which would amend the state Constitution to guarantee all New Yorkers a “healthful environment.” The measure will, among other things, open new legal options for communities adversely affected by pollution. Sixty-one percent voted for the proposal, 27 percent voted against it and 11 percent eft the question blank.
With 15,518 of 15,622 election districts reporting, voters rejected Ballot Proposal 3 which would have changed the state Constitution so the state Legislature could pass new laws to eliminate the 10-day advance voter registration requirement. Supporters of Prop 3 wanted to allow new voters to be able to register vote on the day of the election. The measure failed with 51 percent voting against it, 38 percent voting for it, and 11 percent leaving the question blank.
With 15,518 of 15,622 election districts reporting, voters also rejected Ballot Proposition 4, which would give the Legislature the ability to adopt “no excuse” absentee ballots in New York. The measure would have eliminated the need for voters to explain why they want or need to sue an absentee ballot as opposed to voting in person. Opponents of Ballot Propositions 3 and 4 said they could provide more opportunities for election fraud. Fifty percent voted against Prop 4, nearly 37 percent voted for it and 11 percent left the question blank.
With 15,518 of 15,622 election districts reporting, voters increased the jurisdiction of the New York City civil courts system, increasing the size of claims that could be heard in those courts from $25,000 to $50,000. Supporters of Prop 5 say it will clear backlogs in higher state courts and speed up legal proceedings throughout the court system. More than 53 percent of voters answered ‘yes’ on Proposition 5, nearly 32 percent voted ‘no,’ and 14.5 percent eft the question blank.
“The New York State Conservative Party is proud to have led the effort to defeat three shockingly un-democratic ballot proposals in Tuesday’s election, Propositions 1, 3, and 4. They were designed by the Joe Biden-led Democratic Party to weaken long-established election safeguards in their favor, just as they’re trying to do at the national level with HR1,” said State Conservative party Chairman Gerard Kassar. “We are confident that, when absentee ballots are counted, New York voters will have exposed this ploy for what it was, a gross attempt to subvert democracy. It will spell a sharp rejection of HR1 and President Biden’s attempt to rig the electoral system going into the 2022 midterm elections.”
This story will be updated as more election districts report their final results. All results reported here are from the New York State Board of Elections.
