Protecting and Strengthening Democracy

We must ensure all New Yorkers’ voices are heard and their votes counted. Our rigid voting laws disenfranchise New Yorkers, particularly the most marginalized groups. We must expand voting rights by allowing all voters to vote by mail and expand early voting. Amid a national tide of anti-voter measures that threaten our elections and disenfranchise individuals and populations, New York has an opportunity to stand as a model, but only if we make this a priority.

We must also make serious commitments to end the influence of big money on our politics. This includes fully resourcing and embracing New York’s public financing system, and for candidates to reject money from corporations, lobbyists, and powerful special interest groups like the real estate industry.

Albany also needs major ethics overhaul, accountability, and culture change to to end the scourge of sexual harassment and abuse in state government. We must ensure the Governor’s appointments are free of conflicts of interest and other forms of dangerous corporate influence.

As your Governor, I would:

• Expand NY’s voting rights (including absentee voting, same day registration) and fund and reform Boards of Elections

• Fully fund and implement public financing of our elections to limit the influence of big money in our politics

• Bring an ethical approach to governance, including making sure appointments are free of conflicts of interest and corporate influence, and ensure strong transparency and accountability from Albany