On Thursday, September 25th, the United States Department of Justice sued six states, including New York, for a failure to provide voter registration rolls. Read the details of the suit here. 

The League of Women Voters of New York State condemns recent efforts to undermine our democracy and the integrity of our elections. Across the country and here in New York, partisan attacks are targeting the very institutions that ensure free and fair elections: our Boards of Elections and the dedicated workers who administer them. 

These actions are not about protecting democracy, they are about intimidating election officials, sowing doubt, and suppressing voters — particularly communities that have long faced discrimination at the ballot box. 

We stand firmly with New York’s election officials and the voters they serve. Election workers deserve protection, respect, and the resources to carry out their duties without fear or political interference. Boards of Elections are nonpartisan bodies charged with upholding state and federal law, and they must remain free to do so. 

At a time when election systems are under coordinated attack, New York must defend the authority of state and local election officials, expand voter access, and ensure that every eligible New Yorker can make their voice heard. The League of Women Voters of New York State will continue to expose these threats, protect our voters, and stand with the institutions that safeguard democracy in every corner of our state.

Erica Smitka