Gov. Kathy Hochul and Legal professional Basic Letitia James offered an replace on nonpartisan efforts to guard voting rights and public security throughout New York State in the course of the 2024 elections on Oct. 28.
Photograph courtesy Workplace of Gov. Kathy Hochul/Darren McGee
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Legal professional Basic Letitia James on Monday offered an replace on nonpartisan efforts to guard voting rights and public security throughout New York State in the course of the 2024 elections.
Hochul mentioned these efforts embrace statewide, multi-agency assets to fight misinformation and reply to any impediments to voting.
“As New Yorkers solid their ballots, we’re taking each measure needed to make sure the sanctity of the democratic course of so that everybody can have their voice heard,” Gov. Hochul mentioned. “In partnership with Legal professional Basic James and regulation enforcement throughout the state, we have now established instruments and protections to safe the best of all residents to take part on this election — and we are going to at all times stand as much as defend these rights towards those that threaten them.”
James mentioned, “New York has a protracted historical past of free and honest elections, and this 12 months is not any completely different. My workplace has been getting ready for months for a protected and clean election course of, and we are going to proceed to do every thing in our energy to defend New Yorkers’ elementary proper to vote.
“I’m grateful to Gov. Hochul and our companions at each degree of presidency and regulation enforcement who’re working with my workplace to make sure each New Yorker is aware of their rights and is protected as they solid their vote this election,” she added. “If in case you have any points on the polls or casting your vote, please contact my workplace’s Election Safety Hotline.”
New York State Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Providers Commissioner Jackie Bray mentioned, “New York’s elections are and can stay protected and safe. Each New Yorker ought to get on the market and vote between now and Election Day. For particulars on how you can vote together with polling places and the hours polling locations are open, please contact the State Board of Elections and your native County Board of Elections for good, trusted sources of election data or go to www.elections.ny.gov.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James mentioned, “In America, voting is one in every of our most cherished rights. The New York State Police acknowledges that you will need to defend the sanctity and integrity of that privilege. I thank Governor Hochul and the Legal professional Basic’s Workplace for his or her help so we are able to proactively defend our infrastructure and make voting a protected course of for all New Yorkers.”
Election Day will happen on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting started on Saturday, Oct. 26 and can happen by way of Sunday, Nov. 3. Voters can discover their early voting and election day polling places on-line.
Hochul mentioned the Workplace of the Legal professional Basic (OAG)’s Election Safety Hotline will likely be accessible to troubleshoot and resolve a spread of points encountered by voters from Saturday, Oct. 26 by way of Wednesday, Nov. 6. New Yorkers can contact the Election Safety Hotline by both calling (866) 390-2992 or submitting a criticism on-line.
The governor mentioned New York State elections are administered by bipartisan county or metropolis boards of elections throughout the state and supported by the bipartisan New York State Board of Elections.
Hochul and James on Monday reminded New Yorkers that the State Board of Elections and county boards of election throughout the state are the very best sources for factual and real-time details about elections and voting in New York State.
They warned voters to pay attention to probably false or deceptive election-related content material, which can be utilized to create confusion and mistrust in voting techniques and processes, significantly when unfold on social media platforms.
Hochul and James mentioned this can be within the type of false photographs created by synthetic intelligence, or just incorrect data shared by friends.
The governor mentioned New Yorkers can go to the New York State Board of Elections on-line to search out details about how and the place to vote, and to study extra about measures in place to guard election integrity.
She mentioned New Yorkers may also observe the State Board of Elections on X @NYSBOE, Fb, Instagram and YouTube, and might discover contact data for county boards of elections throughout New York State by way of the State Board of Elections web site.
James has additionally launched a information referred to as “Defending New Yorkers from AI-Generated Election Misinformation” to assist defend towards misinformation generated by AI concerning the upcoming elections.
Anybody who has questions or sees incorrect election data being distributed ought to contact the New York State Board of Elections at data@elections.ny.gov or (518) 474-1953 or report it to OAG’s Election Safety Hotline by calling (866) 390-2992 or submitting a criticism on-line.
Hochul underscored her ongoing dedication to making sure a protected and clean election course of.
She mentioned that is made potential by way of year-round partnerships between federal, state and native authorities companies “devoted to making sure that each voter can solid their poll and have it counted.”
The governor mentioned this multi-agency cooperation will proceed all through the 2024 Basic Election, and assets will likely be accessible to help in a “swift, organized response to any election disruptions which may happen.”
Mostly, she mentioned such disruptions embrace incidents like downed energy strains, interruptions to web providers and weather-related street closures.
Gov. Hochul additionally reminded voters that every one election evening outcomes are unofficial, and there will not be a transparent winner in sure races till all mail and affidavit ballots are counted by bipartisan county boards of election across the state and the election is licensed.
She mentioned state companies like DHSES and NYSP will coordinate with native regulation enforcement companions within the days after the election to make sure that peaceable election-related public demonstrations proceed in a way that protects New Yorkers’ proper to free speech whereas sustaining public security.
Hochul beforehand signed the historic John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York – among the many nation’s most expansive state-level voting rights act.
This landmark regulation eliminated boundaries to accessing the polls and ensured all eligible voters have an equal alternative to vote within the State of New York.
The governor mentioned the regulation contains key measures to stop voter suppression and intimidation, develop election-related language help, and guarantee equitable entry to the poll for all eligible voters.
Moreover, in August, on the 59th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Hochul signed a bundle of laws to additional strengthen voting protections and make it simpler for voters to solid their ballots in New York.
