New York’s highest court on Tuesday upheld a law allowing all registered voters to vote by mail, rejecting a Republican challenge to the legislation.
The 6-1 ruling by the state Court of Appeals confirmed that the voting expansion law, approved by the Legislature last year, is constitutional. The lawsuit, part of a broader GOP effort to tighten voting rules following the 2020 election, was spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Challengers contended that the state constitution requires most voters to cast their ballots in person. However, Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, writing for the majority, stated that although the issue was “difficult” and unprecedented for the high court, there is no such constitutional mandate.
The ruling ensures that millions of New Yorkers will have the option to vote by mail in the November 5 election, a change from the previous system where only a small portion of voters could do so. This shift follows a series of rule changes initiated in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Associated Press reported.
