Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/05/2018
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Southeast Steuben County Library
Categories
Finding Voice: Why NY Needs Election Reform
and what you can do!
Join Mary Thorpe, recent delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in 2016, will present on why New York State needs election reform and what you can as a voting citizen. This program will focus on the 4 proposed changes included in this years budget, with an emphasis on the need for early voting options.
According to LetNYVote.org, New York State typically has some of the worst voter turnouts in the country. In the 2014, it dipped to 34.4 percent and the state ranked 48th. Even in hotly contested 2016, New York was ranked 41st in voter turn out.
New York’s archaic voting laws contribute to this issue. 37 other states offer early voting, 34 states have electronic voting polls – New York does not. It does have the longest time period of all other states to change voter registration before a primary. NY State Attorney, General Eric Schneiderman received an astounding number of complaints during the 2016 election which led to a report and introduced legislation offering 9 suggested changes to our election laws.
Mary Thorpe has a Masters in Genetics from Cornell and taught biological sciences. Following retirement, Thorpe was heavily involved with anti-fracking political activism which furthered her understanding of the importance of voting. Mary Thorpe was elected as a 2016 delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and subsequently started a chapter of the New York Progressive Action Network for Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties. Election reform, getting out to vote and the NY Health Act have become her main focus.
Finding Voice is designed to be a safe space for all voices. A series co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Steuben County & The Southeast Steuben County Library.