NOVEMBER 2024 GUIDE TO BALLOT PROPOSALS

Proposal 1: Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment

Description of Proposal: This proposal amends Article 1, Section 11 of the New York Constitution. Section 11 now protects against unequal treatment based on race, color, creed, and religion. The proposal will amend the act to also protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The amendment allows laws to prevent or undo past discrimination.

Question as it Will Appear on Ballot: This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

A “YES” vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.

A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.

LWV NYS Position on Proposal No. 1: Vote YES

Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly Containing the Wording of the Amendment

Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing an amendment to section 11 of article 1 of the constitution, in relation to equal protection

Section 1. Resolved, that section 11 of article 1 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

§ 11. a. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed [or], religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, be subjected to any discrimination in [his or her] their civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state, pursuant to law.

b. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or prevent the adoption of any law, regulation, program, or practice that is designed to prevent or dismantle discrimination on the basis of a characteristic listed in this section, nor shall any characteristic listed in this section be interpreted to interfere with, limit, or deny the civil rights of any person based upon any other characteristic identified in this section.

Section 2. Resolved, that the foregoing amendment be submitted to the people for approval at the general election to be held in the year 2024 in accordance with the provisions of the election law.

Explanation – Text that is underscored and in bold is new; strikeout text in brackets [xxx] is old law to be removed.

Westchester County Ballot Proposal: Increase the Term Length for County Legislators from Two to Four Years

Question as it Will Appear on Ballot: Should individuals serving in the position of Westchester County Legislator serve four-year terms instead of two-year terms?

LWVNYS, LWVW, and LWVS have not taken a position on the above proposal. The following is information that appears on the Westchester County Board of Legislators website:

In a collaborative and bipartisan effort, the Westchester County Board of Legislators is proposing an amendment to Chapter 107 of the Laws of Westchester County, known as Westchester County Proposition No. 2024-1, that will extend the terms of County Legislators from two to four years, while keeping existing term limits in place. This change would allow legislators to concentrate more fully on the needs of their constituents, focus on policy proposals rather than constant campaigning, reduce the cost of administering elections, and align with the standard set by a majority of New York State county legislative bodies, which already have four-year terms.

Chairman Vedat Gashi (D-New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said, “By extending the length of Legislators’ terms, we’re saving taxpayer dollars by allowing us to hold fewer elections and creating a more effective and efficient system to serve the needs of today’s voters so that Legislators can focus on the work they were elected to do, rather than constantly campaigning. I’ve spoken to voters throughout the County from Yorktown to Yonkers, and they’ve all told me the same thing – they want us to focus on policy, not politics – and this proposal allows us to do that.”

Key Benefits of Four-Year Terms

1. Cost Savings for Taxpayers:
   Elections can be costly — for both candidates and taxpayers. And the cost of elections continues to increase. This proposal is expected to significantly reduce the financial burden of administering elections, allowing public funds to be redirected to essential services.
2. Reduced Campaigning:
   A four-year term will enable Legislators to spend less time fundraising and campaigning, resulting in fewer campaign mailings, campaign phone calls, and other messaging to residents. This shift will allow Legislators to dedicate more time to legislative work and community engagement.
3. Delivering Results:
   A single legislative proposal can take several months or even years to develop. A four-year term will enable County Legislators to oversee the implementation of their enacted policies. It would also help ensure that County funds secured for a specific project are used in a timely fashion and for their intended purpose, allowing for more thoughtful and impactful legislation.
4. Expertise and Experience:
   Legislative issues are often intricate and multifaceted. A four-year term gives Legislators the time to develop the expertise required to address these challenges effectively.
5. If Proposition 1 does not pass, Legislators will run for office in 2025, 2026, and 2028 (due to the new state election schedule). 
   If Proposition 1 does pass, Legislators will run in 2025 and then again in 2028 (due to the new state election schedule).

As part of this proposal, a mandatory referendum is required to allow Westchester voters to approve this change.

Co-sponsor of this proposal, Minority Legislator Margaret Cunzio (C -North Castle, Mount Pleasant, Sleepy Hollow, Harrison) said, “This proposal enjoys true-partisan support – tripartisan if you consider that I am a proud member of the Conservative party. We all believe that this proposal will not only improve the efficiency of our government but will also enhance the quality of representation our constituents deserve. We will still have our term limits in place and this does not change that. We encourage voters to approve this initiative, which aims to enhance our efforts on the issues that matter most to our community.”

Co-sponsor Legislator Benjamin Boykin (D-White Plains, Scarsdale, West Harrison), who was recently elected as President of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), said, “Over 70% of the counties across New York State have already moved on to longer terms. It is a common-sense piece of legislation. By adopting this change, Westchester will align itself with surrounding counties and empower Legislators to address pressing community issues with the time and attention they deserve.