Green Party of New York State v. New York State Board of Elections
Voting Rights & Elections
The Center represented the Green Party in its fight to protect the right of voters to register with the Party on voter registration forms and to prevent the state and county Boards of Elections from stripping more than 30,000 New York State citizens of their identity as Green Party members on registered voter lists. In December 2002, the District Court issued a temporary restraining order in favor of the Green Party. In May 2003, U.S. District Judge John Gleeson issued a preliminary injunction that requires New York State to revise its voter registration application to allow voters to continue to register in the Green Party through at least the 2006 gubernatorial election and requires county boards of election to maintain and record new voters’ Green Party affiliation preferences. On Sept. 18, 2003, Judge Gleeson modified the Court’s earlier injunction to require that the State Board of Elections provide a line for registrants to enroll in any political party that successfully placed a candidate on the ballot in the most recent gubernatorial election. This ruling currently means that voters must be allowed to enroll in, and elections officials must maintain records for, the Libertarian, Marijuana Reform, Liberal, and Right to Life Parties in addition to the Green Party. In November 2004, the Second Circuit affirmed the District Court’s decision.
Press Center
- Press Release: District Court Affirms Voters’ Right to Register in Party of Choice in Green Party of NYS v. NYS Board of Elections (Sept. 25, 2003)
- Press Release: Preliminary Injunction Issued in Green Party of NYS v. NYS Board of Elections (May 30, 2003)
- Press Release: Preliminary Injunction Hearing Set for January 16 (Jan. 14, 2003)
- Press Release: Green Party Issued Temporary Restraining Order (Dec. 19, 2002)
- Press Release: Complaint Filed on Behalf of State Green Party (Dec. 10, 2002)