Latimer: June Primary Would Accommodate Military Voters

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New York State Assemblyman George Latimer (Dem-91st A.D.) has announced his support for a June Primary Date in 2012, to satisfy Federal requirements under the Military Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. Over the last few decades, New York State's Primary Date has been held in September, but that date does not provide sufficient time to ensure ballots to military and overseas voters are mailed 45 days prior to an election, as required by the MOVE Act. Technically, an August or July Primary Date would comply with the law, but Latimer stated that "it would be absurd to hold primaries for important state and federal posts in the middle of the summertime. College students are back home in June, and younger students are still in classes in June, thus their parents are still at home. Vacation schedules do not kick in until July - therefore, a June Primary Date guarantees the most convenient time available for the largest number of people to vote in the primaries to be held".

The Assembly, led by a Democratic majority, is expected to support the establishment of a June date, along with most good government and voting rights groups. The Senate majority, led by Republicans, have filed papers in federal court seeking an August primary date.

"The calendar in 2012 will change", noted Assemblyman Latimer, "as mandated by federal law. Let's make the smart move to June, do it quickly, and without the usual hyper-partisan debate".