New York

On November 7, 2016, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation making New York's approval of the National Popular Vote compact permanent. Governor Cuomo's press release said:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation that secures New York's place on the list of states that have joined National Popular Vote compact. By signing this legislation, Governor Cuomo seeks to guarantee that every vote in every state will matter in every presidential election. 

The bill (S.5478/A.6044) modifies legislation signed by Governor Cuomo in 2014 that added New York to an interstate agreement in which member states commit to award their electoral votes for president to the candidate that receives a majority of the national popular vote. The original legislation required that New York be removed from the compact at the end of 2018 if the agreement had not been adopted nationally. This new measure removed this expiration date and keeps New York on the list of states supporting the National Popular Vote indefinitely.

"This action will help ensure every vote is treated equally and places New York at the forefront of the battle for fairer elections and strengthen our democracy," Governor Cuomo said. "Making the national popular vote a binding one will enable all voices to be heard and encourage candidates to appeal to voters in all states." 

By signing on to the National Popular Vote Compact, New York pledges to award its 29 electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote in ALL 50 States plus the District of Columbia, but only to take effect once enough other states have passed identical legislation to comprise a majority of the Electoral Colleges 538 votes. The compact currently contains 165 of the necessary 270 electoral votes (61 percent).

A federal constitutional amendment is not required to effect this change, as Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution provides states the plenary power to award electoral votes in any manner they choose. Currently, like 47 other states, New York uses the winner-take-all method in which the winner of the popular vote in New York State receives all of its electors. This method was used by only 3 states in 1789.

The National Popular Vote legislation adheres to the basic principles of fairness in elections. Under the current winner-take-all system, Presidential candidates are able to ignore reliably Republican and Democrat states, like New York, and focus all of their attention and resources on a select group of battleground states. Therefore, candidates have no reason to focus on the many issues that matter to millions of New Yorkers across the state. The current system artificially divides the country into red, blue, and swing states. New York is a victim of this system despite ranking 4th in the country with over 13 million eligible voters, New York ranked dead last in Presidential campaign spending.

Senator Joseph Griffo said, "As Election Day finally arrives, every New Yorker wants to know their vote for President will matter in deciding the future of our country. I am proud to have sponsored legislation that will allow New York State to join the National Popular Vote Compact, and the amendment signed by the Governor today will now give more states enough time to join this interstate agreement. A national popular vote compact will make New York relevant, so that we can't be ignored or taken for granted as the candidates instead fight over the few winner-take-all battleground states that historically have decided who is elected president. In the 21st Century, every vote really should count, and this legislation will help achieve that democratic ideal in a way that respects the Constitution."

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said, "Only in the world's greatest democracy, the person who receives the most votes for President is not necessarily the winner. National Popular Vote would change that, and it would mean that every American's vote in every state would count equally. Currently, New York is a bystander in Presidential elections, where candidates spend most of the time in battleground states. It's time that New York issues count – that New Yorkers count. I am proud to be the sponsor of National Popular Vote in New York and applaud Governor Cuomo for signing this legislation that will keep the National Popular Vote compact in place in New York."

The compact has now been enacted through legislation in 10 states: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as Washington D.C.

On April 15, 2014 — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the National Popular Vote bill, making New York the 11th jurisdiction to enact the law.

On March 25, 2014, the New York Legislature completed action on the National Popular Vote bill and sent it to Governor Cuomo. The Senate passed the bill by a 57–4 margin, and the Assembly passed the bill 102–33. The bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Joseph Griffo and Democratic Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

In the Senate, Republicans supported the bill 27–2; Republicans endorsed by the Conservative Party by 26–2; Democrats supported the bill 30–2; Democrats supported by the Working Families Party supported the bill 25–2.

In the Assembly, Republicans supported the bill 21–18; Republicans endorsed by the Conservative party supported the bill 18–16; Democrats supported the bill 81–15. Democrats endorsed by the Working Families Party supported the bill by 59–11.

Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz presents bill in New York Assembly

On June 12, 2013, the New York State Assembly approved the National Popular Vote bill (A4422-S3149) by a 100–40 margin. A total of 78 Democrats and 22 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Assemblymember Jeffery Dinowitz (sponsor) debates bill on June 12, 2013
Assemblymember Carl. E. Heastie debates bill on June 12, 2013
Assemblymember Joan L. Millman debates bill on June 12, 2013
Assemblymember Sandy Galef debates bill on June 12, 2013

On February 5, 2013, the National Popular Vote bill was introduced in the New York Assembly and Senate (A4422-S3149). The Senate bill was sponsored by Senators Joseph A. Griffo, and Kevin S. Parker. The Assembly bill was sponsored by Assemblymen Jeffrey Dinowitz, Fred W. Thiele. Jr., Joan L. Millman, Sandy Galef, Charles D. Lavine, Brian Kavanagh, Richard N. Gottfried, Vivian E. Cook, Ellen Jaffee, Michele R. Titus, Steve Englebright, Nick Perry, Daniel J. O'Donnell, Amy Paulin, Barbara Lifton, Karim Camara, Annette Robinson, Felix Ortiz, Jose Rivera, Phil Ramos, Dan Quart, Inez D. Barron, William F. Boyland, Jr., Alec Brook-Krasny, William Colton, Nelson L. Castro, James F. Brennan, Michelle Schimel, Vanessa L. Gibson, Earlene Hooper, Donna A. Lupardo, Aileen M. Gunther, Linda B. Rosenthal, Mark Weprin, Michael Miller, William B. Magnarelli, Eric A. Stevenson, Robert J. Rodriguez, Phillip Goldfeder, Kenneth Zebrowski, Phil Steck, Luis R. Sepulveda, Al Stirpe, Walter T. Mosley, Thomas J. Abinanti, Carmen E. Arroyo, Anthony J. Brindisi, Marcos A. Crespo, Clifford W. Crouch, Steven Cymbrowitz, Michael G. DenDekker, Janet L. Duprey, Rafael L. Espinal, Jr., Patricia Fahy, Deborah J. Glick, Stephen Hawley, Carl E. Heastie, Rhoda Jacobs, Joseph R. Lentol, Peter D. Lopez, William Magee, Alan Maisel, Margaret M. Markey, John T. McDonald, III, David G. McDonough, Francisco P. Moya, Bob Oaks, Sean Ryan, William Scarborough, Michael Simanowitz, Frank K. Skartados, Robert K. Sweeney, Matthew Titone, Helene E. Weinstein, and Harvey Weisenberg.

On June 7, 2011, the Republican-controlled New York Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill (S4208 / AB 489) by a 47–13 margin, with Republicans favoring the bill by 21–11 and Democrats favoring it by 26–2. Republicans endorsed by the Conservative Party favored the bill 17–7. The bill now goes to the New York State Assembly. The bill passed the New York Senate in 2010 when the chamber was controlled by Democrats and has now passed with the chamber controlled by Republicans.

Senator Joseph Griffo (sponsor) debates bill on June 7, 2011
New York Senate votes on bill on June 7, 2011

In February 2011, Senator Joseph A. Griffo introduced the National Popular Vote bill (S4208) in the New York Senate.

The National Popular Vote bill in the Assembly is sponsored by Jeffrey Dinowitz, Fred W. Thiele Jr., Sandy Galef, Charles D. Lavine, Brian Kavanagh, Joan L. Millman, Mike Spano, Richard N. Gottfried, Vivian E. Cook, Ellen Jaffee, Steve Englebright, N. Nick Perry, Daniel J. O'Donnell, Amy Paulin, Barbara Lifton, Karim Camara, Annette Robinson, Michele R. Titus, Felix Ortiz, Jose Rivera, Phil Ramos, Inez D. Barron, William F. Boyland, Jr., Alec Brook-Krasny, William Colton, James F. Brennan, Nelson L. Castro, Donna A. Lupardo, Nettie Mayersohn, Linda B. Rosenthal, John J. McEneny, Michelle Schimel, Hakeem Jeffries, Vanessa L. Gibson, Earlene Hooper, Naomi Rivera, Aileen M. Gunther, William B. Magnarelli, Sam Hoyt, Peter Manuel Rivera, David I. Weprin, Eric Stevenson, Mike Miller, Robert Rodriguez, George Latimer, Guillermo Linares, Philip Boyle, Daniel J. Burling, Marcos Crespo, Clifford W. Crouch, Steven Cymbrowitz, Michael G. DenDekker, Janet L. Duprey, Gary Finch, Deborah J. Glick, Stephen Hawley, Carl E. Heastie, Rhoda Jacobs, Rory I. Lancman, George Latimer, Joseph R. Lentol, Peter D. Lopez, William Magee, Alan Maisel, Margaret M. Markey, Grace Meng, Dean Murray, Robert Oaks, Audrey I. Pheffer, Andrew Raia, Teresa R. Sayward, William Scarborough, Robert K. Sweeney, Matthew Titone, Helene E. Weinstein, Harvey Weisenberg, and Kenneth Zebrowski.

On June 7, 2010, the New York Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill (S2286A / A1580B), with over two-thirds of both political parties supporting the bill in a 52-7 roll call. The vote was 22-5 among Senate Republicans (with 3 not voting) and 30-2 among Senate Democrats. The bill now goes to the 150-member Assembly where it has 80 sponsors.

New York Senate passes National Popular Vote bill 52-7

On February 17, 2009, the National Popular Vote bill (S2286A) was introduced in the New York Senate by Senators Kevin S. Parker, Liz Krueger, and George Onorato. The bill currently has a total of 18 sponsoring, also including Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Antoine M. Thompson, Bill Perkins, Diane J. Savino, Eric Adams, Eric Schneiderman, Hiram Monserrate, John L. Sampson, Jose M. Serrano, Neil D. Breslin, Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Shirley L. Huntley, Velmanette Montgomery, William T. Stachowski, and Darrel J. Aubertine.

On December 23, 2008, the National Popular Vote bill was introduced in the New York Assembly for the 2009 session by Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz and others. The amended bill (A1580B) currently has a total 61 sponsors in the Assembly, including Assembly members Adam Clayton Powell IV, Alan Maisel, Anthony S. Seminerio, Felix Ortiz, Fred W. Thiele Jr., Jose R. Peralta, Jose Rivera, Karim Camara, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Keith L.T. Wright, Marc S. Alessi, N. Nick Perry, Phil Ramos, Robert K. Sweeney, Steve Englebright, Steven Cymbrowitz, William F. Boyland, Jr., William Magee, William Scarborough, Adriano Espaillat, Alec Brook-Krasny, Annette Robinson, Aurelia Greene, Brian Kavanagh, Charles D. Lavine, Daniel J. O'Donnell, David Koon, Deborah J. Glick, Grace Meng, Inez D. Barron, James F. Brennan, John J. McEneny, Jonathan L. Bing, Linda B. Rosenthal, Marcus Molinaro, Micah Kellner, Michael G. DenDekker, Mike Spano, Nelson L. Castro, Peter D. Lopez, Richard N. Gottfried, William Colton, Amy Paulin, Audrey I. Pheffer, Barbara Lifton, Donna A. Lupardo, Ellen Jaffee, Ginny Fields, Joan L. Millman, Michele R. Titus, Nettie Mayersohn, Patricia A. Eddington, Sandy Galef, Teresa R. Sayward, Vivian E. Cook, Rhoda Jacobs, Philip Boyle, Joseph R. Lentol, Kenneth Zebrowski, Margaret M. Markey, Janele Hyer-Spencer, Carl E. Heastie, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Martin Malve Dilan, Pedro Espada, Jr., Suzi Oppenheimer, Michelle Schimel, Hakeem Jeffries, Vanessa L. Gibson, Earlene Hooper, Naomi Rivera, David I. Weprin, Rory I. Lancman, Peter D. Lopez, Frank K. Skartados, Matthew Titone, Andrew Hevesi, Aileen M. Gunther, William B. Magnarelli, Al Stirpe, Daniel J. Burling, Clifford W. Crouch, Janet L. Duprey, Dean Murray, Addie J. Russell, and Helene E. Weinstein.

A survey of 800 New York voters conducted on December 22-23, 2008 showed 79% overall support for a national popular vote for President. By gender, support was 89% among women and 69% among men. By age, support was 60% among 18-29 year olds, 74% among 30-45 year olds, 85% among 46-65 year olds, and 82% for those older than 65. By race, support was 78% among whites (representing 67% of respondents, 78% among African Americans (representing 18% of respondents), 86% among Hispanics (representing 12% of respondents), and 70% among Others (representing 4% of respondents). Support was 86% among Democrats, 66% among Republicans, 78% among Independence Party members (representing 8% of respondents), 50% among Conservative Party members (representing 3% of respondents), 100% among Working Families Party members (representing 2% of respondents), and 7% among Others (representing 7% of respondents). The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 1/2%.      December 2008 New York poll

On May 13, 2008, the Assembly Committee on Election Law approved the National Popular Vote bill.

On April 15, 2008, Senator Joseph A. Griffo, Chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, introduced the the National Popular Vote bill in the New York Senate. (S07582     Status of S07582)

On February 12, 2007, Assembly members Jeffrey Dinowitz, Fred W. Thiele, Jr., Sandy Galef, Charles D. Lavine, and Barbara Lifton are sponsoring the National Popular Vote bill in the New York State Assembly (A3883) (Status of A3883).

In 2006, five Republican New York Assembly members introduced the bill (A11563) on May 25, 2006:

  • Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (Republican, Independence, Working Families – Sag Harbor);

  •  Assemblyman Jim Bacalles (Republican, Conservative – Corning);

  • Assemblyman Joe Errigo (Republican, Conservative – Conesus);

  • Assemblyman Andrew Raia (Republican, Conservative, Independence, Working Families – East Northport); and

  • Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (Republican, Independence, Conservative – Willsboro).

The bill's sponsor, New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. stated in 2006:

"Theto insure the popular election of the President is a creative and innovative way to attain this goal. New York State, the Empire State should take a leadership role in energizing our democracy."