NY Court Upholds Mail Voting Law

New York's highest court has upheld a law that allows any registered voter to cast a ballot by mail, rejecting a Republican-led lawsuit claiming it was unconstitutional. The 6-1 ruling from the Court of Appeals affirmed that the state Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul were within their rights to pass the Early Mail Voter Act in 2023. Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote that the state constitution does not explicitly require in-person voting. The decision marks a significant victory for voting rights advocates, while Republicans, led by Rep. Elise Stefanik, argue it disregards the will of voters who rejected a similar constitutional amendment in 2021. The law's supporters, including Attorney General Letitia James, celebrate the ruling as a step forward in removing barriers to voting.