Move NY primaries to fix problem
An envelope for absentee ballots in 2009 Credit: Howard Schnapp
New York should hold its primary elections in June rather than September as it does now.
The political season is tortuously long already, and the scheduling change would make it even longer. But the current system risks disenfranchising members of the military and other eligible voters who are overseas. There isn't enough time between September primaries and November general elections to ensure they all receive and can return absentee ballots, although allowing people to apply for and receive them by email, a change initiated last year, should help.
Making sure those roughly 55,000 votes are all counted is reason enough to move the primary date. But it's also necessary to comply with a 2009 federal law enacted to protect service members' voting rights. The U.S. Justice Department has asked a judge to order New York to schedule primaries at least 80 days before general elections, which would mean sometime in August. Absentee ballots would go out at least 45 days before the general election.
But August is a bad time for a primary. It's a big vacation month, which would mean low voter turnout. Going back to June primaries -- which we had until 1974 -- would prevent that consequence.
The state Board of Elections has requested a waiver to put off any change until after 2012, citing complications from the new legislative districts due to take effect that year. The board should forget delays and focus on doing what it takes to make this change work.
