Change candidate petitioning requirements to address coronavirus dangers

Times Union

Feb. 20, 2021

New York could take a big step to safeguard the people's ability to choose from a diverse field of candidates for local elected office and to avoid significant health risks for voters. New York requires candidates to obtain voter signatures on petitions to be eligible to run for office. This now happens in the middle of winter and by going door to door using a list of voters registered in the party for which they seek the ballot line. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this poses a significant health risk for candidates, their volunteers and voters. But, wait, there is an easy and safe solution.

Just like for the recent 2020 November election, the governor modified New York’s absentee voting rules to allow mail-in voting. Our politicians thought it was too risky for New Yorkers to vote in person despite health precautions taken, it is even riskier to have people going door to door to people’s homes where the health precautions cannot be taken.

The governor needs to either allow petitioning to be done electronically or eliminate the petition requirement altogether. Why won’t this be done? Perhaps because it doesn’t benefit the Democratic Party and candidates. Helping more people run for office isn’t really necessary or desired in a one-party government.

It’s now time to endorse New Yorkers' right to help candidates get on the ballot by mail. The time is right, the urgency is high, and need for diversity is now.

Barbara Collura Delmar Co-Vice Chair, SAM-NY