By Election Day, the majority of New Yorkers will have decided who they are voting for, from the top of the ballot on down.
What they may not know is that the back of their ballot has a vitally important proposition that will codify essential protections for New York State. This is of particular relevance to at-risk populations, including immigrants, seniors, the LGBTQ+ community, those with disabilities, and for women's reproductive health.
When asked about Proposition 1, voters have been drawing a blank.
The legislature passed this constitutional amendment twice. Now, voters can activate its passage in this year's election.
What will Proposition 1 Do?
The amendment language states that it will protect the right to abortion for all New Yorkers. It will also close all loopholes in the State Constitution to ensure that no New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, pregnancy status, disability status, or whether someone is LGBTQ+.
I attended two events to learn more. The first was an educational presentation in New York City (Bronx). The second was a rally in Yonkers to support the legislation.
Morgan Evers and Abigail Martin from the 81st Assembly District anchored the Bronx meeting. State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz were in attendance. Martin emphasized that in 2018, women could get Reproductive Healthcare throughout their pregnancies. Rivera said, "Proposition 1 is needed because New York State must be a bulwark."
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