A number of first-time Brooklyn Democratic insurgent candidates signed onto a letter today urging State Attorney General Letitia James to use her legal authority to pressure Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Board of Elections to mail every eligible voter an absentee ballot for the June 23 primaries with pre-paid postage for voters to mail back their ballots.
The letter follows Cuomo’s executive order on Saturday moving the special elections for both Brooklyn’s open 37th City Council District and the open Queens Borough President’s race as well as the presidential, congressional and all state primaries from April 28 to June 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter also requests that the absentee ballots go out for those running for party county committee, including district leader candidates.
“Knowing that we have yet to hit the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that we protect the health and safety of our neighbors, poll workers, and all New Yorkers. However, their protection should not come at the cost of their civic participation. We urgently request that you use your legal authority to pressure Governor Cuomo and the Board of Elections to provide every eligible voter with an absentee ballot for the June 23rd primaries that include county committee candidates, with pre-paid postage for voters to mail back their ballots,” the candidates wrote.
The letter noted that James in a March 22 press release, supported the mailing of absentee ballots utilizing existing state law and an executive order to temporarily suspend and modify state laws relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the Brooklyn Democratic candidates who signed onto the letter include Jabari Brisport and Jason Salmon, who are along with Assemblywoman Tremaine Wright (D-Bed-Stuy, Northern Crown Heights) are vying for the 25th District State Senate left open with the retirement of State Sen. Vemanette Montgomery (D-Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Red Hook, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Sunset Park, Gowanus, Park Slope).
Also signing onto the letter were Katherine Walsh and Marcela Mitaynes, both of whom are challenging incumbent Assemblymember Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) in the 51st Assembly District. Likewise, Julio Peña III, who is challenging Ortiz for Democratic District leader, also signed onto the letter.
Emily Gallagher, who is challenging Assembly Member Joe Lentol (D-Williamsburg, Greenpoint) in the 50th Assembly District also signed onto the letter.
“We understand that absentee-ballot voting normally requires New Yorkers to request an absentee ballot application, and can only do so for specifically enumerated reasons. But according to your statement, a State of Emergency could suspend the requirement to request an absentee ballot and broaden the application reasons. You’ve laid out a clear path forward in your earlier release, and we are confident this same path can be taken for the June 23rd primary,” the candidates wrote.
The candidates also said time is of the essence as the Board of Elections will need to educate voters, print millions of corrected ballots and include postage so voters can fill them out and send them back by the deadline.
“This will require millions in additional funding for logistics and voter education efforts,” they wrote.
A James spokesperson referred to her March 22 press release saying she supports automatic absentee balloting.
“Voters shouldn’t have to choose between their health and the right to cast a ballot,” said James in the release. “If we act now, we have more than a month before the presidential primary and numerous special elections across our state to take action and ensure every eligible New York voter receives an absentee ballot. Let’s make it easier for every voter to cast their vote without spreading the coronavirus and jeopardizing public health. Democracy should not be suspended if there is a safe alternative.”
Additionally, Lentol announced earlier this month he would be introducing a bill that would implement an automatic absentee voting system on an emergency basis for the April [which is now June 23] election, in an effort to stop the further spread of the coronavirus.
