Download an “explainer” of Proposition 1, from the Columbia Law School, as a pdf.

PA Voters: For voting information call 877-868-3772 or visit vote.pa.gov or iwillvote.com

Just reminding our NY voters to turn your ballot over and vote on Proposition 1, nicknamed the “Equal Rights Amendment” to our NYS Constitution.  For information on this proposal, you can go to WNYC’s Brian Lehrer show, which spent about 45 minutes discussing it yesterday.  Here’s the link:

https://www.wnyc.org/story/the-battle-over-prop-1-on-the-ny-ballot/

Though the NYS election is not quite local, I do believe voting is local, and so want to be sure everyone in our area is equipped to make the decision they most believe in.  It may affect our lives directly.

Basically, Prop 1 enshrines into the NYS Constitution the abortion protections, equal rights protections, gender protections, etc., that NYS already has as laws.  Laws are relatively easy to change, but the Constitution is difficult to change, and therefore Prop 1 gives us more solid protections.

The opposing arguments are coming from the anti-abortion/anti civil-rights groups, and they are making false claims that Prop 1 will allow illegal aliens to vote, men to play on girls’ sports teams, etc., but Prop 1 does not override federal law, or, as I said, NYS rights that already exist.  Prop 1 actually does not create new policy.

An interesting breakdown of what the bill will and won’t do:

https://www.nycbar.org/reports/prop-1-ny-equal-rights-amendment-what-the-amendment-will-and-wont-do/

AND HERE IS THE AMENDMENT:

Text of Proposal Number One, An Amendment

Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing an amendment to section 11 of article 1 of the constitution, in relation to equal protection

Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 11 of article 1 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

• 11. a.No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability,creed [or], religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, be subjected to any discrimination in [his or her] their civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state, pursuant to law.

1. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or prevent the adoption of any law, regulation, program, or practice that is designed to prevent or dismantle discrimination on the basis of a characteristic listed in this section, nor shall any characteristic listed in this section be interpreted to interfere with, limit, or deny the civil rights of any person based upon any other characteristic identified in this section.

• 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be submitted to the people for approval at the general election to be held in the year 2024 in accordance with the provisions of the election law.