{"id":2217410,"date":"2024-04-10T12:55:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T16:55:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-county-prepares-to-sue-new-york-over-law-hitching-local-elections-to-state-dems-coattails\/"},"modified":"2024-04-10T12:58:48","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T16:58:48","slug":"gop-county-prepares-to-sue-new-york-over-law-hitching-local-elections-to-state-dems-coattails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-county-prepares-to-sue-new-york-over-law-hitching-local-elections-to-state-dems-coattails\/","title":{"rendered":"Republican County Plans to File Lawsuit Against New York Over Legislation Tying Local Elections to State Democrats&#8217; Influence"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgop-county-prepares-to-sue-new-york-over-law-hitching-local-elections-to-state-dems-coattails%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2217410&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In Dutchess\u2063 County, N.Y., a Republican county is considering \u2064legal action against New York for a state \u200claw that shifts certain local elections to align with state and federal \u2064election years. This move could affect Republican candidates\u2064 negatively and benefit Democrats. The \u2062county legislature passed a resolution authorizing legal action, citing \u2064concerns about the law&#8217;s impact on local autonomy. In Dutchess County, N.Y., Republicans are contemplating \u2064taking legal \u200caction against New York due to a state law\u200b that\u2062 moves specific local elections to sync with state and federal \u200delection\u2064 cycles. This shift may harm\u2063 Republican candidates while \u2064favoring Democrats. The county legislature has\u2062 approved a resolution \u200bto <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rudy-giuliani-sued-by-former-lawyers-for-nearly-1-4-million-in-outstanding-bills\/\" title=\"Rudy Giuliani faces .4M lawsuit from ex-lawyers over unpaid fees.\">pursue \u2063legal action<\/a>, expressing worries regarding the law&#8217;s interference with local independence.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y.: A Republican county took a step closer to suing the state of New York after state Democrats voted to usurp the authority of county legislatures to set the years of local elections \u2014 a move that local officials say will likely hurt Republican candidates and help Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>The Dutchess County legislature, which has 15 Republicans and 10 Democrats, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wamc.org\/news\/2024-04-09\/dutchess-county-authorizes-potential-lawsuit-over-new-york-law-moving-local-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">voted<\/a> 14-7 (with four legislators absent) on Monday to pass a resolution authorizing the county attorney to sue the state over a 2023 law that moved <a href=\"https:\/\/legislation.nysenate.gov\/pdf\/bills\/2023\/A4282B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">certain local elections<\/a>, like those for county legislator, executive, and \u201ctown officers,\u201d to even-numbered years \u2014 coinciding with state and federal elections which statistically have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vermonts-republican-governor-signs-legislation-expanding-mail-in-voting\/\" title=\"Vermont\u2019s Republican Governor Signs Legislation Expanding Mail-In Voting\">higher voter turnout<\/a>. Aside from two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nysenate.gov\/legislation\/bills\/2023\/S3505\/amendment\/B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democrats<\/a> who joined Republicans to vote against it, the 2023 legislation passed the Democrat-led state Senate on a party-line vote before it was signed by Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-112569102\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-d55635eb035bf610e07afc78668f40a6 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-d55635eb035bf610e07afc78668f40a6\"><\/div>\n<p>Not all city and village elections are being moved to even-numbered election years. The legislation makes exceptions for county clerks, sheriffs, and district attorneys. Additionally, Dutchess County Legislature Chair Will Truitt told The Federalist that school board races occurring in May aren\u2019t affected since the state law concerns November elections. <\/p>\n<p>The law will take effect in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The Dutchess County resolution authorizes County Attorney Caroline Blackburn to use up to $100,000 to consult outside counsel while suing the state, should she need it, Truitt said. Fellow Legislator Douglass McHoul told The Federalist that Blackburn has \u201cexpressed confidence in her office\u2019s ability to do most of the work in-house.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The new state law, local officials say, is a ploy from the state to make sure local governments are falling in lockstep with the Democrats who control Albany under the guise of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-budget-proposal-has-3-huge-red-flags-experts-say\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Budget Proposal Has 3 Huge Red Flags, Experts Say\">saving taxpayer dollars<\/a>. Legally, Dutchess County Republicans argue the biggest problem is that the law violates the county charter, which authorizes local elections to be held during odd-numbered years. <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-d681482d7a67732d3c73841184d5fb6e fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-d681482d7a67732d3c73841184d5fb6e\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe politics behind all of this is very clear: Democrats in Albany want to do whatever they can to grow their power and they see this as an opportunity by consolidating local elections into presidential and gubernatorial years,\u201d Truitt told The Federalist. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDutchess County adopted our charter via a referendum by the voters in 1967. It lays out our local elections \u2026 would be held in odd years,\u201d Truitt added. \u201cNew York State gives tremendous and very strong home rule authority to counties to create these charters and establish their own forms of government.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wamc.org\/news\/2024-04-09\/dutchess-county-authorizes-potential-lawsuit-over-new-york-law-moving-local-elections#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According<\/a> to local outlet WAMC, \u201cOnondaga and Nassau Counties have filed challenges with similar arguments, and the Oneida County legislature has also authorized a potential lawsuit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Democrat legislator Brennan Kearney argued that state law trumps the county charter and that the measure would increase voter turnout, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wamc.org\/news\/2024-04-08\/dutchess-county-to-consider-lawsuit-challenging-new-york-state-over-new-election-law\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WAMC<\/a>. But Truitt said Democrats\u2019 claim that the move will make voting easier and result in higher voter turnout is a political argument rather than a legal one. <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-3685fb491bdc62b11f9a02fd0042b89a fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-3685fb491bdc62b11f9a02fd0042b89a\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201cThis isn\u2019t about politics,\u201d Truitt told The Federalist. \u201cWe said that New York State has blatantly violated our county charter, they overstepped their boundaries and they don\u2019t have the authority to come in, dictate and change our county charter. The only method to change the county charter has to go through the county legislature. The legislature would have to consider an adopted amendment and then it would go on the back of the ballot as a referendum item for the voters to determine how they want to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is the only way to amend a charter change,\u201d Truitt explained. \u201cBut what New York State has done is come in and say \u2018We don\u2019t care what the laws on your books are, we are going to come in here and change these election years.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McHoul told The Federalist he finds it \u201claughable when my Democrat colleagues explain how this will make voting an \u2018easier\u2019 process for all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, all we have to remember is that Election Day is held every year on the first Tuesday of November, pretty simple if you ask me,\u201d McHoul told The Federalist. \u201cAccording to Albany\u2019s new legislation, here is an example of what will be explained to voters in my district: \u2018Please vote in 2025, but that will only count for one year. You have to come back in 2026 to vote again, but then you\u2019ll have to wait until 2028 for the next election. But, there are certain positions that will still require your vote in 2027; only a few for now, and hopefully less than that in 2029.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Truitt explained that during presidential and gubernatorial years, \u201chundreds of millions of dollars\u201d are spent on bigger races \u2014 including NY-19, which is currently represented by Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro, and NY-17, which is represented by Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNone of the focus in a presidential or gubernatorial year is focused on local matters like highways and infrastructure. But the Democrats in Albany see this as an opportunity to expand their power by tying in local elections to those years,\u201d Truitt said. \u201cIf you put us on the tail end of the ballot during a year where there\u2019s national and state elections, a lot of voters just tend to vote down ballot and that\u2019s what these opportunists in Albany see as an opening for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>New York Assemblyman Anil Beephan, who represents parts of Dutchess, told The Federalist the legislation was widely contested in the legislature in 2023 \u201cbecause we truly believe that local elections are their own animals and counties have the in inherent right to follow their charter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe issues are different, the reasons why people vote are different \u2014 local elections are more focused on things happening within your community,\u201d he explained. \u201cCombining it with state and federal issues detracts from the importance of those conversations.\u201d Beephan said the developments in Dutchess County are \u201cpart of a much broader lawsuit that many counties are taking up because they truly believe they should be the ones to determine what happens with their elections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beephan echoed Truitt\u2019s comments, arguing that in more purple areas, like the town of Poughkeepsie, voters will vote in local elections \u201cbased on the candidate\u201d and oftentimes will vote Republican whereas they may vote Democrat in state and federal elections. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf this goes through, local candidates are going to be suddenly answering their thoughts on abortion and other state issues when really they should be thinking about infrastructure, public safety, and local taxes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Beephan warned the law is a \u201cdirect attack\u201d on Long Island and areas north of Westchester \u2014 both of which lean Republican.  <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-4971a768da05d0534f1a60ddd2a95d44 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-4971a768da05d0534f1a60ddd2a95d44\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Dutchess County, N.Y., Republicans edge closer to suing New York as state Democrats voted to strip county legislatures of election-year control, potentially favoring Democrats over Republicans. Dutchess County officials express concern over the impact on Republican candidates<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":2217411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/51674147700_cb4f355f82_k-e1712699713793.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2217410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/51674147700_cb4f355f82_k-e1712699713793.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2217410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217410\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2217411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2217410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2217410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2217410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}