Why would voters need extra time off on a Tuesday to vote? The simple answer: They don't.
Yet, now that Democrats control Albany, a broad new law they enacted allows every worker in New York just that: three hours of paid time off to vote on Election Day. Employees need give their supervisors only 48 hours notice, and they don't need to show they're unable to vote without the time off, prove they voted, or even that they're registered.
The absurd measure, stuffed into the budget and passed in April by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, makes no sense in light of other smart changes such as early voting. It's not only unnecessary, it's also expensive and disruptive.
The state has made voting easier, and that's worthy of applause. But taking that effort too far, without attention to the consequences, does far more harm than good.
Editorial on 11/05/2019