APPELLATE DIVISION UPHOLDS DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AND REAFFIRMS VOTING RIGHTS OF SECOND-HOME OWNERS

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE COLUMBIA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

Today, the Appellate Division of the NYS Court sided with the Democratic Committee in upholding second-home owners' right to choose from which residence to vote. In issuing its decision, the Court threw out all Republican challenges based on absentee voters’ dual residency, finding that such challenges may not be made after a ballot has already been issued. The case survives only as to those challenges that were not being contested in this appeal. This important decision validates the rigorous defense of dual residents’ voting rights made by our attorney, Kathleen O'Keefe, and Commissioner Martin’s attorney, Dan Burstein. We are pleased that this issue has now been settled and that the court yet again has recognized the voting rights of second-home owners. This pro-voter decision makes it clear that the voter suppression tactics used by the Republican Party in this case are not permitted.