Upstate judge voids new even-year elections law
An Onondaga County judge today threw out New York's new even-year voting law enacted by the Democratic-controlled state legislature and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in December, 2023. Supreme Court Justice Gerard J. Neri, a Republican, not only voided the new law, which was to take effect next year, but he essentially sneered at the arguments used to enact it. Neri noted that the state legislature contended it had the authority to overturn county charters and home rule voting schedules because elections are a "state concern." But "the mere statement by the Legislature that subject matter of the statute is of State concern does not in and of itself create a State concern," Neri wrote, citing legal precedent. He noted, "Further distinguishing state from local concern is the fact that none of the affected offices are state offices. There is simply no s