Dear LWV Members,
Your input is critical to enabling the League of Women Voters of New York to advocate for improvements in our voting procedures. Please participate in the League’s consensus process by registering for one of two virtual discussion sessions and reviewing the explanatory information linked below.
THE CONSENSUS PROCESS:
Following reports from two study committees, the LWVNY is proposing position statements on Rank Choice Voting and Non-Partisan Primaries and on Approval Processes for Voting Machines (Systems), as stated below. To gauge support from the membership, LWVNY is holding two virtual discussion and Q&A sessions via Zoom and soliciting individual responses from those attending the discussions.
Please register and attend one of the following discussions:
Click to Register for Session 1 – March 27th 10am
Click to Register for Session 2 – April 30th at 7pm
Participants will be eligible to vote on each proposal by May 15
PROPOSED POSITIONS
PROPOSED POSITIONS: RANK CHOICE VOTING & NON-PARTISAN PRIMARY
Proposed Position Statement 1: Ranked Choice Voting
● The League of Women Voters of New York State supports the use of ranked-choice voting (a.k.a., instant runoff voting), in primary, general and/or special elections to elect federal, state, and/or local officials.
● With the adoption of any electoral system, the League believes that education of the voting public is important and funding for startup and voter education should be allocated.
Proposed Position Statement 2. Primary Systems that allow all registered voters to participate in the primary process, including the use of nonpartisan primaries
● The League of Women Voters of New York State supports changing from a closed partisan primary system to a primary system, including a nonpartisan primary system, that allows all registered voters to participate, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof.
● We support the use of nonpartisan primaries to elect federal, state and local officials.
PROPOSED POSITIONS: APPROVAL PROCESSES FOR VOTING SYSTEMS*
Proposed Position Statement 1:
The League of Women Voters of New York State believes that supporting the development of a publicly designed and developed new customized voting system (i.e., machine) for New York State could improve accessibility and confidence in our elections.
● Support for a change in Election Law and Code to allow for development of a publicly designed new customized voting system for use by all voters, including those with disabilities.
● State funding should be made available to help fund the design and development process, and to assist counties purchase the new voting system once it is certified by the state BOE.
Proposed Position Statement 2:
The League of Women Voters of New York State believes that a more transparent and open voting systems approval process would improve voter understanding of, and confidence in, our elections.
●Support for greater transparency and public input in the approval process, including increased demonstrations open to the public, followed by comment periods.
●Public demonstrations should be scheduled to provide public input earlier in the certification process.
* In this context “Voting Systems” means voting machines.
REVIEW THE 2024-2025 STUDIES:
The study materials explain the reasons behind initiating the inquiry, a summary of current conditions and the pros and cons of the recommended positions.
Click for the Ranked Choice Voting & Non-partisan Primary Study
Click for the Voting Systems Approval Process Study
Thank you for participating in this important consensus process.
Louise Perez and Elisabeth Radow
Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters of Larchmont-Mamaroneck