What’s Happening:

Democrats in the state of New York have gone too far with legislation further changing rules regarding elections, according to a group of Republican state legislators. Democrats in the state are pushing for wider access to less-regulated voting rules while Republicans plan to stop their efforts.

GOP leaders say recent legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is not what New York residents want. Hochul’s expansion of early voting by mail has gone too far, Republicans claim, and they plan to stop the measure.

U.S. House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) announced a lawsuit against Hochul’s legislative move.

From the Washington Examiner:
“Kathy Hochul and extreme New York Democrats are trying to destroy what is left of election integrity in New York,” Stefanik said. “Under Kathy Hochul’s failed leadership, elections are less secure and less transparent and now they will be unconstitutional.”

Hochul has used a series of 10 new election bills, the news outlet reported, that empower any registered New York voter to cast an early ballot by mail. The GOP lawsuit states these election rules would stop regulation on mass mail ballots, and the suit argues that this is against the state Constitution.

Republicans pointed to a 2021 ballot measure pushed by Democrats that would change the state constitution and allow universal absentee voting in elections. The measure failed along with another ballot proposal that would have permitted same-day voter registration.

Even as she signed the latest legislation into law – which takes affect early next year – Hochul admitted she expects legal battles against Democrats’ actions. Hochul questioned Republicans’ efforts to stop the laws, asking, “What is so sinister? Why would this be attacked? What are you afraid of?”

Stefanik and other Republicans have responded to Democrat efforts to expand mail-in voting by stating such actions are done in “defiance” of constitutional law. They went on to say in the lawsuit that Democrats are “ignoring and subverting the will of the people whom the Legislature is supposed to represent.”

As Democrats continue their pursuit of weakening election laws and opening up voting to less regulation, Republicans must keep up efforts to stop their plans.

Key Takeaways:

• New York Democrat governor signs law that expands mail-in voting.
• GOP leaders say the new law makes elections less secure.
• Republicans sue Democrats for “subverting” the will of the people.

Source: Washington Examiner