YourNNY Your Source for News & Sports in Northern New York

LIVE IN THE NR SB NBC5 NEWS. IF YOU’RE VOTING IN NEW YORK… IT’S IMPORTANT TO CHECK ááBOTH SIDES OF YOUR BALLOT. BECAUSE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THAT BALLOT IS A PROPOSITION. THAT WOULD EXPAND áPROTECTIONS WITHIN THE STATE CONSTITUTION. NBC5’S BENNY NEZAJ JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR PLATTSBURGH STUDIO TO EXPLAIN. BRIAN, NEW YORKERS WILL NOT ONLY BE VOTING FOR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS THIS ELECTION CYCLE. ON THE BACK OF THEIR BALLOTS, A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT KNOWN AS THE “EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT” WILL ALSO BE DECIDED THIS YEAR. (áááCENTER LOGO WIPEááá) (áááSOTááá) RON SEYB POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, SKIDMORE ballot measure had to be approved by the state legislature twice before, could be put on the ballot.” (áááVOááá) CHANGES COULD COME TO NEW YORK STATE’S CONSTITUTION IN THE 2024 ELECTION CYCLE. (áááVO WITH STILLááá) UNDER THE STATE’S CONSTITUTION, THERE IS CURRENT PROTECTION AGAINST UNEQUAL TREATMENT BASED ON RACE, COLOR, CREED AND RELIGION. (áááVO WITH STILLááá) BUT PROPOSITION ONE WOULD expand the wording of the equal protection clause to include UNEQUAL TREATMENT BASED ON ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, SEX, SEXUAL EXPRESSION, PREGNANCY, AND PREGNANCY OUTCOMES, AS WELL AS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND AUTONOMY. (áááSOTááá) AUTONOMY. RON SEYB/ POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, SKIDMORE COLLEGE 00;05;52;17 – 00;05;57;24 <“THIS IS NOT A CHANGE IN TERMS OF ADDING SOMETHING TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT’S NOT ALREADY THERE. IT’S SIMPLY BROADENING THE SCOPE OF RIGHTS THAT ALREADY EXIST IN NEW YORK STATE TO INCLUDE OTHER CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED OR FEEL LIKE THEY MAY HAVE NOT RECEIVED EQUAL PROTECTION LAWS IN THE PAST.”> (áááVOááá) REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMAN MATT SIMPSON SAYS THE WORDING OF THE PROPOSITION IS TOO BROAD AND could have implications BEYOND WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE rights. (áááSOT WITH PHONER STILLááá) ASSEMBLYMAN MATT SIMPSON (R) NY DISTRICT 114 00;01;58;22 – 00;02;15;08 “This is so loosely written and broadly written that, you know, there could be some very concerned and unintended situations arising from the passage of this and, you know, inclusion into our Constitution.” (áááSOTááá) DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYMAN BILLY JONES SAYS the language is already reflected in state laws – it’s up to voters to DECIDE WHETHER TO permanently ADD THEM TO THE STATE’S CONSTITUTION. (áááSOTááá) ASSEMBLYMAN BILLY JONES/ (D) NY DISTRICT 115 16;51;57;07 – 16;52;05;14 “All of these things are already in New York state law. What it will do is enshrine into the Constitution, and I think that’s an important point to make.” (áááVOááá) AND LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE REMINDING VOTERS TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT’S ON THIS YEAR’S BALLOT. (áááSOTááá) DAVID SOULIERE /REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONER, CLINTON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS 16;47;58;22 – 16;48;03;25 “It’s very important to educate yourself on all candidates and propositions on the ballot before you come to vote.” EARLY VOTING IN NEW YORK STATE STARTS this saturday OCTOBER 26TH. WHICH IS ALSO deadline TO REGISTER TO VOTE OR REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ahead of th

New Yorkers to vote on Equal Rights Amendment in 2024 election

The proposition would broaden the language to cover additional categories, including ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and its outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

This year, New Yorkers will not only be choosing their local, state, and federal leaders, but they’ll also weigh in on a significant constitutional amendment. A proposed Equal Rights Amendment will be on the back of their ballots during the 2024 election cycle, marking a potential shift in New York state’s constitution.According to Ron Seyb, a political science professor at Skidmore College, “This particular ballot measure had to be approved by the state legislature twice before it could be put on the ballot.”The proposed amendment, known as Proposition 1, would expand the current protections against unequal treatment. Under the existing constitution, New Yorkers are protected from discrimination based on race, color, creed, and religion. However, Proposition 1 would broaden the language to cover additional categories, including ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and its outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy.Seyb explained the significance of the change: “This is not a change in terms of adding something to the constitution that’s not already there. It’s simply broadening the scope of rights that already exist in New York State to include other categories of people who are marginalized or feel like they may not have received equal protection under the law in the past.”However, not all state leaders agree on the measure. Republican Assemblyman Matt Simpson, representing New York’s District 114, voiced concerns about the broad wording of the amendment, suggesting it could have unintended consequences beyond the realm of women’s reproductive rights. “This is so loosely written and broadly written that, you know, there could be some very concerned and unintended situations arising from the passage of this and, you know, inclusion into our Constitution,” said Simpson.On the other side, Democratic Assemblyman Billy Jones from District 115 pointed out that the language in the proposition already mirrors existing state laws. “All of these things are already in New York state law. What it will do is enshrine it into the Constitution, and I think that’s an important point to make,” he remarked, emphasizing the significance of solidifying these protections at the constitutional level.As the election draws nearer, local election officials are urging voters to be fully informed about the content of their ballots. David Souliere, Republican Commissioner of the Clinton County Board of Elections, reminded voters: “It’s very important to educate yourself on all candidates and propositions on the ballot before you come to vote.”Early voting in New York starts this Saturday, Oct. 26, which is also the deadline to register to vote or request an absentee ballot ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. —

This year, New Yorkers will not only be choosing their local, state, and federal leaders, but they’ll also weigh in on a significant constitutional amendment.

A proposed Equal Rights Amendment will be on the back of their ballots during the 2024 election cycle, marking a potential shift in New York state’s constitution.

According to Ron Seyb, a political science professor at Skidmore College, “This particular ballot measure had to be approved by the state legislature twice before it could be put on the ballot.”

The proposed amendment, known as Proposition 1, would expand the current protections against unequal treatment. Under the existing constitution, New Yorkers are protected from discrimination based on race, color, creed, and religion.

However, Proposition 1 would broaden the language to cover additional categories, including ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and its outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

Seyb explained the significance of the change: “This is not a change in terms of adding something to the constitution that’s not already there. It’s simply broadening the scope of rights that already exist in New York State to include other categories of people who are marginalized or feel like they may not have received equal protection under the law in the past.”

However, not all state leaders agree on the measure. Republican Assemblyman Matt Simpson, representing New York’s District 114, voiced concerns about the broad wording of the amendment, suggesting it could have unintended consequences beyond the realm of women’s reproductive rights.

“This is so loosely written and broadly written that, you know, there could be some very concerned and unintended situations arising from the passage of this and, you know, inclusion into our Constitution,” said Simpson.

On the other side, Democratic Assemblyman Billy Jones from District 115 pointed out that the language in the proposition already mirrors existing state laws.

“All of these things are already in New York state law. What it will do is enshrine it into the Constitution, and I think that’s an important point to make,” he remarked, emphasizing the significance of solidifying these protections at the constitutional level.

As the election draws nearer, local election officials are urging voters to be fully informed about the content of their ballots.

David Souliere, Republican Commissioner of the Clinton County Board of Elections, reminded voters: “It’s very important to educate yourself on all candidates and propositions on the ballot before you come to vote.”

Early voting in New York starts this Saturday, Oct. 26, which is also the deadline to register to vote or request an absentee ballot ahead of the Nov. 5 election.