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Q&A
Commissioner Richardson inquires about legal preclearance for election-related ballot questions
1:17:28
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88 sec
Commissioner Anthony Richardson raises a question about the potential for legal challenges to any election-related proposals the commission might put on the ballot, specifically concerning the preclearance process.
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck confirms that any such questions would indeed be subject to a preclearance process under the New York State Voting Rights Act.
He assures the commission that staff are actively preparing for this, engaging a voting rights expert and retaining legal counsel to navigate the process with the State Attorney General's office.
- Richardson seeks clarity on the legal review requirements for ballot measures concerning elections.
- Schierenbeck explains the mandatory preclearance by the State Attorney General for changes affecting voting.
- The commission is taking proactive steps to ensure compliance, including expert consultation and legal support.
Anthony Richardson
1:17:28
Alex, I just wanna clarify something on on the elections question.
1:17:32
Doing it in this order, is there a question about whether whatever opinion is expressed by the voters, whether that's subject to some legal challenge?
1:17:45
Is that is that a question?
1:17:47
Did I read that correctly?
Alec Schierenbeck
1:17:48
So as you know, any election question we put on the ballot is going to be subject to a preclearance process, likely under the state voting rights act, and that will involve an iterative process with the state attorney general.
1:18:07
And we are looking very closely at the considerations that are relevant to that, preclearance process to inform you and to allow us to put together an effective preclearance submission to the attorney general should you decide to put election related questions to the ballot.
1:18:27
So that is very actively in progress.
1:18:30
We have, commissioned a voting rights expert with a lot of experience to look hard at the data, and we are also in the process of retaining counsel to assist in, in making that preclearance submission should you all decide to put election questions to voters.
Kathryn Wylde
1:18:51
Can I ask a question just before we close because I know we're almost over?