Advocates to rally for voting rights law outside Cuomo’s office

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not yet signed a bill that would require the Board of Elections to count all affidavit ballots that are “substantially compliant” with existing law. AP Photo/Hans Pennink

By Phineas Rueckert

Community leaders from a number of organizations continue urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign a bill that would increase voter engagement — particularly amid the ongoing recount in the Democratic primary for Queens district attorney. 

They will rally outside his Manhattan office this afternoon to demand his signature Thursday at noon.

The State Senate and Assembly passed a bill before the end of the legislative session that would require the Board of Elections to count all affidavit ballots that are “substantially compliant” with voting requirements, including ballots missing non-critical information such as party affiliation. 

At least 114 affidavit ballots submitted by registered Democrats in Queens did not include party registration, making them invalid, according to the BOE. The fate of the ballots will be decided by a justice in Queens Supreme Court.

“Dozens of voters are at risk of disenfranchisement in the Democratic primary for Queens District Attorney in which just 16 votes separate Melinda Katz and Tiffany Cabán,” wrote several organizations, including Make the Road NY, Community Voices Heard Power, New York Communities for Change and VOCAL-NY in a statement. 

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has not yet sent the bill to Cuomo, and Cuomo said his staff typically takes several weeks to review legislation.

The BOE is three days into a full manual recount in the Queens DA race that is expected to take 10 days.