Dem scheme to move elections outside NYC to even years upheld by court

Most odd-year elections in New York outside of the Big Apple will now shift to even years, the Empire State’s highest court ruled in a decision handed down Thursday — prompting a top GOP lawmaker to blast Democrats for “rigging” the system.

In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeals smacked down an attempt by Republican-controlled counties to rebuff the law passed in the Democratic-controlled state legislature that would move virtually all local odd-year elections outside New York City to even years.

New York’s highest court upheld legislation that would move odd-year elections to even years. AP

Democrats pushed the measure to bring races for local offices in line with midterm and presidential years, ostensibly as a way to increase turnout for those races.

“By aligning local elections with the state and federal calendar, we’re making it easier for New Yorkers to participate in government. At a time when voting rights are under attack across the nation, New York is proudly moving in the opposite direction,” Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote in a statement.

Republicans argue that changing the local election cycles drowns candidates’ ability to run on local issues and was motivated as a way to help Democrats succeed in races that have seen traditionally lower turnout. 

“Albany Democrats will stop at nothing to change the rules for their benefit. They can’t win local elections on the issues that matter most to our communities so they continue to try to rig the system in their favor,” Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Dutchess), ranking member of the Assembly Elections Committee, told The Post.

The ruling was authored by Judge Michael Garcia, an appointee of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is viewed as one of the court’s more moderate voices.