N.Y. Lawmakers Consider Long-Distance Voting Amid Virus Threat
By Keshia Clukey
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New York state lawmakers are poised to pass legislation allowing them to vote from home as they face a looming state budget deadline and a need to avoid group gatherings to circumvent the spread of coronavirus.
The Senate on Sunday unanimously voted to change voting protocols during declared states of emergency, and allow members to participate in legislative session through tele- or video-conferencing, according to the resolution (No. 3108).
The Assembly will vote Monday on a similar measure (E.00854), Speaker Carl Heastie (D) said in a statement.
The actions come as leaders negotiate with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on the state’s budget for fiscal 2021, which begins April 1.
To contact the reporter on this story: Keshia Clukey in Albany, N.Y. at kclukey@bloomberglaw.com
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Roger Yu at ryu@bloomberglaw.com; Katherine Rizzo at krizzo@bgov.com
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