No matter our race, background or zip code most of us believe that for democracy to work for all of us, it must include us all. Unfortunately, Wall Street billionaires and rich corporate donors continue to flood our elections with money, drowning out the voices of everyday New Yorkers. While the wealthy can write giant checks, the rest of us have only our votes. Too many New Yorkers are blocked or discouraged from voting, especially low-income people, people of color, and people with disabilities. This undermines our quest for a truly representative democracy that listens and responds to the needs of all people.

We must ensure that all New Yorkers can participate fully and equally in the electoral process. Our freedom to vote is how we ensure a government for the common good–a government that creates good jobs, makes healthcare affordable, and guarantees that all of our children go to good schools. We want a transparent process we can trust, where New Yorkers have equal freedom to vote, whether we live in a small town or big city, Upstate or Downstate. We have to make sure that voting options are equally accessible to everyone and that our voices are heard by preventing billionaires from buying our elections.

We must strengthen and expand our democracy, which means protecting the rights of every single person to participate in it. We will make elections accessible for all New Yorkers by:

• Investing $114.5 million in Public Financing of Campaigns to ensure elected officials are accountable to people, not special interests
• Protecting the Freedom to Vote for all New Yorkers and strengthen and expand participation in our democratic elections

Democracy is a part of Our Justice Agenda for 2023. Click here to read the full Agenda and get involved in the fight!