Jerry Goldfeder, one of the leading experts on New York election law, has this column in CityLand, advocating improvements in New York state election law. He calls for easier ballot access. He also calls for easing the restrictive law that does not permit voters to change parties within eleven months of a primary. This is by far the most restrictive such law in the nation.
Unfortunately, Goldfeder did not call for improving New York ballot format. New York has the nation’s most confusing ballot, followed closely by the ballot used in most counties in New Jersey. Both New York and New Jersey ballots hide “unimportant” candidates in far corners of the ballot, where many voters don’t even notice their names. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
in 2003 goldfeder opposed allowing IPNY to change party rules to allow non-enrolled voter participation in IPNY primaries
Voters can change registration within 11 months of a primary, sometimes, depending on when the primary is. They have to submit it at least a month or so before the general election, at which point it will change effective after the impeding election. Since NYS also has one of the latest primaries in the nation, in September, that gives an 11 month difference almost. It was actually in sole possession of THE latest in 2012 because it was moved from September 11th to September 13th. Which was stupid scheduling to begin with, it’s not like they didn’t know it would be the 9/11 anniversary. But it won’t happen in future years, it will just be tied for the latest with a couple other states.
However, for presidential primaries (and beginning in 2012, federal primaries as well) you can change within 11 months, since presidential is during the normal season (it was April in 2012) and federal was in June in 2012.
the general election cycle is the only election that counts for the voter enrollment lock box statute. the lock box closes approx 30 days before the November General Election date so the enrollment is not changed until after the next General Election
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
NO primaries.
Office boxes on snail mail ballots.