NYC mayor's call for NYS election reforms win some early acclaim

Ranging well beyond just a five-borough proposal, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s suggested voting reforms — geared toward low electorate turnout statewide — are getting some positive buzz. Sounds like they could make some lawmakers look good in Albany too, if the measures draw momentum at the Capitol.

Included in this report, he calls among other things for creating an early-voting period; allowing New Yorkers to fill out their ballots at home and bring to a polling site; modernizing registration process and extending registration deadline from 25 days to 10 days before Election Day; and simplifying the ballot design with plain language instructions. “New York,” said his text, “is the only state in the union that does not offer any of the following voter access reforms: early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, same day registration, online registration or party switch within six months of a primary.”

The full report is here.

Camp Cuomo, which had Bloomberg's election endorsement, says the gov-elect will review the proposals.

OK, so these reforms may not be aimed at keeping billionaire candidates from drowning opponents in campaign spending, or at fixing the term-limit laws.

But again, they seem to have some appeal, if mostly within the five-borough Democratic fold, if only so far.