ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The state Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a New York law that would allow all registered voters to vote by mail, striking down a law sought by Republicans.
The state appeals court’s 6-1 ruling upheld lower courts’ finding that the voting law passed by the Legislature last year was not unconstitutional. The lawsuit was part of a broad GOP push to tighten voting rules after the 2020 election, led by the U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik.
The challengers argued that the Constitution requires most people to vote in person.
Chief Justice Rowan Wilson wrote in the majority opinion that the government does not have a “clear, unequivocal and continuing” understanding that the constitution requires in-person voting.
Democrats tried to expand mail-in voting through a constitutional amendment in 2021, but voters rejected the proposal after a conservative campaign, saying it would lead to voter fraud.
State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox said voters rejected the amendment in a prepared statement, calling the Supreme Court’s decision an “insult” to New Yorkers.
“This holding is clearly contrary to what generations of New York legislators, lawyers and judges had decided and what the people were saying in 2021 when they rejected the amendment,” Cox said.
