1. Early Voting Starts Tomorrow
Early voting starts on Saturday, October 26 and runs through Sunday, November 3! Voting hours and polling sites vary by county. Find early voting information for your county, here.
Tomorrow is also the last day to register to vote! If you’re not registered, you can do it online. Even if you think you’re registered, make sure to double-check.
Before you go to the polls, check out CSEA’s list of endorsements by region on our website. Don’t forget to flip your ballot and vote YES on Proposition 1, the Equal Rights Amendment!
2. Election Highlights: The New York State Assembly
The 2024 General Election is 10 days away! This week, we are highlighting NYS Assembly races. All 150 seats in the State Assembly are up for election this year and CSEA has made endorsements in many of them throughout the state. While each race is important, we wanted to highlight a few.
CSEA is supporting Stacey Pheffer Amato in her re-election bid for Assembly District 23, which encompasses parts of Queens. As Chair of the Governmental Employees Committee for the NYS Assembly, Pheffer Amato, has been played an integral role in CSEA’s work to reform Tier 6 and the civil service system to recruit and retain employees in the public sector.
CSEA is proud to endorse Harry Bronson in his re-election bid for Assembly District 138, which encompasses parts of Rochester and the surrounding areas. As Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, Bronson has been a great friend to unions and has consistently fought to provide greater protections and benefits to workers across the state. Even before being elected to the Assembly, Bronson was fighting for workers as a labor and employment attorney.
CSEA has endorsed Mary Beth Walsh for re-election in Assembly District 112, which covers portions of Saratoga, Schenectady and Fulton counties. Walsh has been a strong, supportive voice on issues important to our union members, including Tier 6 reforms and recruitment and retention legislation. Walsh has also established a strong record fighting for critically important funding for local governments to invest in much needed road and bridge repair.
For more information on how to vote, including early voting locations and a list of all of CSEA’s endorsements, visit cseany.org/vote.
3. Governor Signs School Bus Safety Bill
This week, Governor Hochul signed A.3120/S.9504, which increases the fine for passing a school bus from $1,000 to $1,500. Thousands of children and school district employees are put in danger due to reckless and illegal driving behavior around school buses, which can lead to tragic and fatal consequences. By increasing penalties, this bill works to deter this behavior and increase safety for children and staff alike.
This past session, 805 bills were passed by both houses of the State Legislature. Since the end of session in June, Governor Hochul has acted on 445 of them. This leaves 360 bills that are awaiting the governor’s signature or veto.
4. CSEA Legislative Toolkit
We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our legislative successes. Click the icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news. You can also check out CSEA’s summary of the 2024-2025 Enacted Budget here.
Tier 6 Reform:
Updating Civil Service Exams:
Counting Provisional Time Toward Promotions:
Employee Notice of Records Disclosure:
Minimum Age & Education Requirements for Exams: