Seven Democratic members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday announced they are backing a trio of proposed amendments to New York's state constitution which are being put before voters this fall.
The proposals being embraced include changes to the state's redistricting process that could ultimately give more clout to Democratic lawmakers in the state Legislature during the redistricting process for the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the state Senate and Assembly.
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Signing on to the push, part of an effort as early voting gets underway in the state, include Reps. Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Grace Meng, Hakeem Jeffries, Jamaal Bowman, Kathleen Rice and Mondaire Jones.
The congressional Democrats are also backing propositions 3 and 4 on the ballot, which would end the 10-day pre-registration requirement for voting in New York as well as enshrine no-fault absentee balloting in New York.
"While rightwing lawmakers across the country are spreading twisted lies in order to pass anti-voter laws and push people of color and immigrants out of democracy, New Yorkers have the chance to show the rest of the country that we stand for a democracy where nobody is shut out," Nadler said in a statement. "I urge everyone to vote yes on proposals 1, 3, and 4 to give New Yorkers the strong democracy that every American deserves."
Republicans over the last several weeks have mounted a counter effort to have voters reject the amendments. The redistricting changes could prove especially challenging for the GOP. If approved, the measure would make it easier for majority Democrats to approve maps drawn by state lawmakers in Albany if a commission in charge of the process fails to reach an agreement on the new lines.
The amendment would also codify in the constitution a state law that bars the redistricting process from counting people in prison as part of the district in which they are incarcerated, as well as cap the number of members of the state Senate at 63 lawmakers.
But a lot is at stake for the party nationally, given the narrow divide in the House of Representatives, and the likelihood the party will lose seats in the midterm election.
In prior years, congressional lawmakers in both parties have gone as far as to hire lobbyists to influence state lawmakers on the redistricting process.
"We can't waste this opportunity to expand voting rights and give New York a better redistricting process - especially while there is an anti-democracy wave moving across the country," Jeffries said. "Proposals 1, 3, and 4 will protect the political power of New York immigrant communities and communities of color, and expand voting rights so that more of us are able to make our voices heard. I hope all New Yorkers will see these rightwing scare tactics for the lies they are, and vote yes on these crucial pro-democracy measures."