October 2003
Dear Friends,
Great News!!!
On September 18th, U.S. District Judge John Gleeson, sitting in Brooklyn Federal Court, ordered the New York State Board of Elections to do the following:
1) Maintain a box on the New York State Voter Registration Form labeled "OTHER (Write In) ", with a space to designate party affiliation desired (i.e. Green, Liberal, Libertarian, Marijuana Reform, Right To Life);
2) Include suitable instructions on the form telling registering voters how to use the "OTHER (Write In)" line;
3) Direct the local boards of election to maintain and update enrollment information of present and future Liberal Party registrants, so that available voter registration lists reflect all current and future enrollees.
This order, unless successfully appealed by the State Board of Elections-and a successful appeal does not seem likely- remains in force until at least the gubernatorial election of 2006. Moreover, if any voters in any minor parties have already been "disenrolled" from their prior party the Board of Election must use their best efforts to notify them that they may re-enroll by completing a new enrollment form.
We have linked the complete order to:
www.nyed.uscourts.gov/Decisions_of_Interest/decisions_of_interest.html
What does this order not do? It does not give us back the right of automatic ballot access; for that, we still need to garner 50,000 votes in the gubernatorial election of 2006. What this decision does for us is that it makes the task of organizing and bringing out our votes in that election a lot easier.
Let's get ready to rumble- for 2006!!
We would be remiss if we did not thank the untiring efforts of Herbert Rubin, who so ably represented the Liberal Party before Judge Gleeson, and was able to secure this victory.
Our hats are off to you, Herb! Many Thanks!