Adjunct Professor Jerry Goldfeder wrote an op-ed about New York’s failed bid to convene a Constitutional Convention.
New York voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected the proposal to convene a Constitutional Convention. But whether you were a supporter or opponent, take heart — multiple avenues for political reform are still available. We can make our government work better.
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Convention supporter Bill Samuels has spelled out his ideas. The New York City Bar Association has listed its own suggestions, too. Whether or not you agree with these ideas or not, they are a good starting point for discussion. That should start now, because persuading two successive state legislatures, and then the voters of the state, to approve constitutional amendments will not be easy. But this is a propitious moment to make an all-out effort. Reforms could actually become effective in two short years.
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[N]ew York City has lowered the number of signatures required for candidates to get on the ballot, and, like other jurisdictions in the state, imposed term limits.
In light of the debate aroused by the Constitutional Convention ballot question, a group in New York City is about to embark on an effort to amend its charter even further — to enact early voting, easier registration and enrollment procedures, and same-day registration. If Albany continues to drag its feet on these issues, other jurisdictions can do the same for their elections.