File #: Res 1673-2013    Version: * Name: Extend the deadline for voters to register for a political party and be able to vote in the 2013 primary election for that party.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations
On agenda: 3/13/2013
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign into law legislation that would extend the deadline for voters to register for a political party and be able to vote in the 2013 primary election for that party.
Sponsors: Melissa Mark-Viverito, Charles Barron, Margaret S. Chin, Letitia James, Donovan J. Richards, Deborah L. Rose, James G. Van Bramer, Jumaane D. Williams, Ydanis A. Rodriguez
Council Member Sponsors: 9
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2013*Melissa Mark-Viverito City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/13/2013*Melissa Mark-Viverito City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/13/2013*Melissa Mark-Viverito City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
Res. No. 1673
 
 
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign into law legislation that would extend the deadline for voters to register for a political party and be able to vote in the 2013 primary election for that party.
 
 
By Council Members Mark-Viverito, Barron, Chin, James, Richards, Rose, Van Bramer, Williams and Rodriguez  
 
      Whereas, Based on voting patterns and party registration in New York City, most Council elections and many citywide elections are decided at the time of the primary; and
Whereas, New York City will have its next local elections in the fall of 2013; and
Whereas, Under current New York State election law, the deadline to register for a political party and be able to vote in that party's primary in the 2013 New York City local elections was October 12, 2012; and
Whereas, The registration deadline is among the earliest in the country and fell before the 2012 general elections, when most voters were focused on the Presidential race and were not yet considering who they would want to support in the 2013 local elections; and
      Whereas, This means that many New Yorkers who will want to vote in the primary elections will be unable to do so, including almost 700,000 voters who currently have no party affiliation; and
      Whereas, The purpose of the deadline is to prevent party jumpers from unfairly skewing close races at the last minute; and
      Whereas, However, a less severe deadline could achieve this same goal without potentially disenfranchising thousands of voters; now, therefore, be it
      Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign into law legislation that would extend the deadline for voters to register for a political party and be able to vote in the 2013 primary election for that party.
AEM
LS #4192
2/4/13