A New York state judge has struck down a law that would have moved many town and county elections to even-numbered years, aligning them with state and federal races.
The ruling, made by state Supreme Court Justice Gerard Neri, came after Republican officials sued, arguing that the law was an attempt by Democrats to gain an electoral advantage by shifting local elections to higher-turnout years like presidential election years. Justice Neri found the law unconstitutional, stating it violated the rights of local governments to control their election processes.
The law, passed by the Democrat-led Legislature, aimed to increase voter turnout and reduce confusion by consolidating election years. However, Republicans contended that it was a partisan move to favor Democrats.
