Legislation co-sponsored by Brindisi passes; will make elections fairer, more accessible
Brindisi: Election reform bills I supported will break down barriers to fair elections and voting; Package of bills passed this week in the state Assembly seeks to improve transparency in state Campaign Finance Law, as well as modernizing the election process
Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi of Utica says he supported a package of legislation this week that passed in the State Assembly closing the limited liability corporation loophole in the state’s campaign finance law, and modernizing the election process, making voting easier and more accessible.
“It’s high time that we close the so-called LLC Loophole in New York,” said Brindisi. “Currently, groups of donors can organize as limited liability corporations, and through existing loopholes, wealthy individuals can skirt campaign finance requirements, and make it difficult to tell who the real contributor to a campaign is. Legislation I supported would end this practice once and for all, bringing more transparency to elections.”
Under current election law, individuals and corporations can make unlimited contributions to the same candidate, campaign committee, or political party by creating multiple LLCs, allowing contributors to avoid campaign contribution limits. The bill passed this week allows each LLC to be treated as an individual donor, even if multiple LLCs are owned by the same person or entity.
Brindisi says legislation he supported (A.9758-A) and that passed this week would extend the $5,000 aggregate contribution limit, requiring LLCs to disclose the names of individuals with membership interests, attributing LLC contributions to them in proportion to their membership interest. He says closing the LLC loophole would level the playing field, preventing a small group of wealthy individuals from making nearly unlimited campaign contributions.
Three bills passed in the Assembly this week would establish early voting, set up a new online voter registration system and allow anyone to request absentee ballots.
“New York is one of only 13 states without early voting,” Brindisi said. “Making the voting process as easy and accessible as possible is an important part of building a stronger state. It is important that as many Mohawk Valley residents as possible have the opportunity to cast their vote, because elections determine the direction our state will head in, the issues that will be debated, and the ways we move our region forward.”
Brindisi says the bill passed in the Assembly this week to establish early voting in New York State (A.9608-B) would allow it to take place during a seven-day period before any general, primary, or special election. Polling locations would be required to be open for eight hours on weekdays, and five hours on weekends and holidays, and two hours in the evening on at least two days. County boards of election would have the option of providing additional early voting hours and would be required to publicize to voters the location, dates and hours of all early voting polling places within each county. The state has committed $7 million to help local governments cover the costs associated with implementing early voting.
Two more of the election reform bills passed this week were co-sponsored by Brindisi. He says the Voter Enfranchisement Modernization Act of 2018 (A.5382-A) establishes online voter registration in New York state, bringing the state’s current paper-based application process into the 21st Century. The other measure (A.7623) would amend the state Constitution to allow any registered voter to receive an absentee ballot on request; currently, residents can only receive absentee ballots if they expect to be away from their home county on Election Day, or if they have an illness or physical disability. This amendment must be passed by both the Assembly and Senate in consecutive terms before it goes before the voters as a ballot referendum.