235.2023 Urging NYS Gov Kathy Hochul to Veto Legislation to Move Local Elect to Even-Num Years RESOLUTION URGING NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR KATHY
HOCHUL TO VETO LEGISLATION A.04282B/2.3505B TO MOVE
CERTAIN LOCAL ELECTIONS TO EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS
RESOLUTION NO.: 235,2023
INTRODUCED BY: Mr.Anthony Metivier
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Timothy McNulty
WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board believes that increasing participation in the
election process and reducing costs of government operations is good for our Republic, and
WHEREAS, Assembly Member Amy Paul and State Senator James Skoufis reintroduced
legislation A.04282B/2.3505B ("legislation") that would move local elections to even-numbered
years during the 2023 legislative session, and
WHEREAS, versions of this legislation were introduced in previous years and failed to
reach the floor for a vote due to lack of support, and
WHEREAS, after the 2022 session concluded, the bill sponsor indicated that hearings
would be held on the proposal through the Election Committee process; however, no hearings
were held, and
WHEREAS, the legislation passed in the middle of the night on the last days of the
legislative session which is counter to the idea of an open and transparent government, and
WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board has several concerns with this bill, and
WHEREAS, this legislation usurps the Home Rule powers reserved by local governments and
protected by the New York State Constitution, raising questions of legality and constitutional
authority, and
WHEREAS, local municipalities have had the ability to change their elections to even-
numbered years for decades and have chosen not to do so, and
WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board believes that establishing the schedule of local
elections is the right of the local government and has been for more than 100 years, and
WHEREAS, the Assembly Bill Sponsor indicated that she had not received any messages of
support for this proposal from any of the 57 Counties and 933 Towns across New York State
impacted by this legislation, and
WHEREAS, this legislation excludes more than half of all New Yorkers who vote in cities and
villages from the changes to Election Law, creating an inequity among New York voters, and
WHEREAS, this legislation unfairly excludes the elections to offices in New York City and all
other cities and villages in New York State as well as certain offices within all counties and towns, and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation circumvented the legislative committee process during
this session, limiting public input and understanding of the impacts, and
WHEREAS, there has been no financial or operational analysis of the impacts on local Boards
of Elections, and
WHEREAS, there are concerns that the current election and ballot counting technology would
not be able to adequately meet the demands of the significantly increased ballot size, and
WHEREAS, this will create confusion amongst voters in towns and counties across New York
State, and
WHEREAS, separating the elections affords voters more time and focus to better understand
important local issues and provides candidates the appropriate platforms to explain their stance on
issues without having to compete against national and state level campaigns, and
WHEREAS, moving local elections to even-numbered years would increase the cost of
campaigns for local office, reducing the number of candidates willing to invest funds into their own
campaign, because the cost of media will increase to compete with national and state level campaign
advertisements, and
WHEREAS,there are significant legal and constitutional questions regarding the legality of this
measure that have not been adequately addressed,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby urges Governor Kathy Hochul to
oppose legislation A.04282B/2.3505B and utilize her veto authority to reject this proposal,and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to send a
certified copy of this Resolution to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea
Stewart Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt, Assembly
Minority Leader William Barclary, Assembly Bill Sponsor Amy Paulin, Senate Bill Sponsor James
Skoufis, Senator Daniel Stec, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and Assemblyman Matthew
Simpson and the Town Supervisor and/or Town Clerk to take such other and further actions as may
be necessary to effectuate the terms of this Resolution.
Duly adopted this I0t'day of July, 2023,by the following vote:
AYES Mr. Ferone, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Strough, Mr. Metivier
NOES Mr. Freer
ABSENT: None