UPDATE – MAY 2026: This article was originally published in April 2026. Although the House did pass the SAVE America Act, it lost focus in the Senate as legislators wrangled over funding the Department of Homeland Security. The range of election protection bills has also expanded and shifted focus since this article was written.
Trump’s fixation on the SAVE America (SAVE) Act shows just how worried he is about a blue wave in November. If it passes, the SAVE Act would end mail-in voting, force voters through onerous proof-of-citizenship, and require states to turn over voter rolls to the federal government. Fortunately, it has garnered pushback and raised awareness of the lengths Republicans will go to prevent Democratic victories.
In the shadows, hundreds of other voter suppression initiatives at the state level go relatively unnoticed. Brennan Center for Justice exposes the diverse tactics being used: limiting polling hours and locations; reducing early voting periods; “cleanup” of voter rolls that purges legitimate voters; creation of obstacles to voter registration; changing the dates by which mail-in ballots must be received; and more. In 2025 at least 16 (mostly “red”) states enacted 31 such laws, 30 of which will be in full effect this election cycle. All told, lawmakers nationwide considered over 615 bills designed to restrict voting or enable election interference.
Fortunately, our state legislators are taking action to protect election integrity and support election workers in New York. In January, a package of seven bills was passed by our state senate:
- Crimes of Voter Deception and Suppression (S.1085) prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters, and increase penalties for violations of the elective franchise.
- Democracy Preservation Act (S.324), significant because it helps counter the impact of Citizen’s United, bans political spending by foreign-influenced business entities in New York’s state and local elections. (As this video shows, 40% of corporate stock is owned by foreign investors!)
- New York Election Officer Protection Act (S.8646A) prohibits the intimidation, obstruction, or the unlawful dissemination of personal information of election officers.
- Establishing Portable Polling Locations (S.568) authorizes county boards of elections to establish county-wide portable polling locations for early voting.
- Registering to Vote at a Secondary Residence (S.1036) strengthens current law that permits citizens to register to vote at a secondary residence with which they maintain a continuous connection, and at which they intend to remain.
- Training for BOE Commissioners (S.1035) requires the State Board of Elections to create a mandatory, uniform training curriculum for all election commissioners.
- Changing the NYS Presidential Primary Date (S.8604) moves the presidential primary date in New York State to Super Tuesday.
In progress separately is the Democracy During Detention Act (S.440), which authorizes polling places at correctional facilities and requires that detainees be given the opportunity to register to vote and apply for absentee ballots.
The seven bills passed by the senate in January are currently under committee review and will hopefully soon reach the assembly floor. If they progress quickly, Governor Hochul can sign them into law in time to better secure our elections this fall.
You can help by (1) calling your Senators and Congressman to let remind them that they must prevent passage of the SAVE America Act, and (2) call or write to Speaker Carl Heastie (Speaker@nyassembly.gov; 518-455-3791) to let him know you support the election integrity bills and want to see them expedited to the assembly floor.
Once again, we’re seeing the potential of state government to mitigate damage being caused by the Federal government—but democracy only works when we stay informed, active, and engaged.
Trump’s fixation on the SAVE America (SAVE) Act shows just how worried he is about a blue wave in November. If it passes, the SAVE Act would end mail-in voting, force voters through onerous proof-of-citizenship, and require states to turn over voter rolls to the federal government. Fortunately, it has garnered pushback and raised awareness of the lengths Republicans will go to prevent Democratic victories.
In the shadows, hundreds of other voter suppression initiatives at the state level go relatively unnoticed. Brennan Center for Justice exposes the diverse tactics being used: limiting polling hours and locations; reducing early voting periods; “cleanup” of voter rolls that purges legitimate voters; creation of obstacles to voter registration; changing the dates by which mail-in ballots must be received; and more. In 2025 at least 16 (mostly “red”) states enacted 31 such laws, 30 of which will be in full effect this election cycle. All told, lawmakers nationwide considered over 615 bills designed to restrict voting or enable election interference.
Fortunately, our state legislators are taking action to protect election integrity and support election workers in New York. In January, a package of seven bills was passed by our state senate:
- Crimes of Voter Deception and Suppression (S.1085) prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters, and increase penalties for violations of the elective franchise.
- Democracy Preservation Act (S.324), significant because it helps counter the impact of Citizen’s United, bans political spending by foreign-influenced business entities in New York’s state and local elections. (As this video shows, 40% of corporate stock is owned by foreign investors!)
- New York Election Officer Protection Act (S.8646A) prohibits the intimidation, obstruction, or the unlawful dissemination of personal information of election officers.
- Establishing Portable Polling Locations (S.568) authorizes county boards of elections to establish county-wide portable polling locations for early voting.
- Registering to Vote at a Secondary Residence (S.1036) strengthens current law that permits citizens to register to vote at a secondary residence with which they maintain a continuous connection, and at which they intend to remain.
- Training for BOE Commissioners (S.1035) requires the State Board of Elections to create a mandatory, uniform training curriculum for all election commissioners.
- Changing the NYS Presidential Primary Date (S.8604) moves the presidential primary date in New York State to Super Tuesday.
In progress separately is the Democracy During Detention Act (S.440), which authorizes polling places at correctional facilities and requires that detainees be given the opportunity to register to vote and apply for absentee ballots.
The seven bills passed by the senate in January are currently under committee review and will hopefully soon reach the assembly floor. If they progress quickly, Governor Hochul can sign them into law in time to better secure our elections this fall.
You can help by (1) calling your Senators and Congressman to let remind them that they must prevent passage of the SAVE America Act, and (2) call or write to Speaker Carl Heastie (Speaker@nyassembly.gov; 518-455-3791) to let him know you support the election integrity bills and want to see them expedited to the assembly floor.
Once again, we’re seeing the potential of state government to mitigate damage being caused by the Federal government—but democracy only works when we stay informed, active, and engaged.
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