Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that several pieces of legislation he supported to close the limited liability corporation (LLC) loophole in the state’s campaign finance law and increase voter participation by making voting more accessible have passed the Assembly.

The first bill – co-sponsored by Stirpe – increases transparency in our electoral system by extending the contribution limit in place for other corporations to LLCs (A.9758-A). Under current law, individuals and corporations can skirt the limit and make contributions to the same candidate by creating new LLCs for each contribution. This legislation would ensure LLCs abide by the same $5,000 aggregate limit that applies to other corporations. It would also require that individuals with membership interests in LLCs be disclosed so that political donations are attributed to them.

“Closing the LLC loophole is a vital part of taking big money and special interests out of our elections,” Stripe said. “Representatives should be working for and listening to the constituents who voted for them, not donors with deep pockets and hidden agendas.”

Another piece of legislation allows for early voting so that a registered and eligible voter can cast his or her ballot during a seven-day period prior to any election – general, primary or special (A.9608-B).

“Elections are the basis of our democracy,” Stirpe said. “Voting allows New Yorkers to have their voices heard and institute real change. That’s why it’s so important that everyone has an opportunity to exercise that right.”

Polling locations would be required to open for eight hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends and holidays, offering evening hours on at least two days, during the early voting period. New York is currently one of only 13 states that doesn’t have early voting.[1] The state has committed $7 million to help counties implement it.

Further, the legislative package includes a measure to establish online voter registration in New York State, called the Voter Enfranchisement Modernization Act of 2018 (A.5382-A). Online voter registration increases efficiency and facilitates the process to encourage voter participation, Stirpe noted.

To increase access to mail-in ballots, another bill would amend the New York State Constitution to allow any citizen to receive an absentee ballot upon request for any reason (A.7623). The amendment must be passed by both the Assembly and Senate in consecutive terms before it goes before voters as a ballot referendum.

“For far too many voters, the process of registering and getting to the voting booth presents challenges that stop them from exercising their right,” Stirpe said. “Making the voting process simple, straightforward and convenient means more New Yorkers have a say in our government.”

These measures build on Stirpe’s continued efforts to ensure free and fair elections. The recently passed state budget includes a measure requiring that online and digital independent expenditures include who’s paying for them.

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[1] ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx