Sentence text 1 | News, Sports, Vacancies

When voters cast ballots in New York State on Tuesday, they will be asked to approve or reject Proposition 1, or the Equal Rights Amendment, to the state constitution. But what they see on the ballot is a simplified version of what voters will actually be asked to approve.

–

Text in the newsletter

–

“Unequal Treatment Protection Amendment: This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and gender, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

“A YES vote embeds these protections in the New York State Constitution.

“A ‘no’ vote removes this protection from the State Constitution.”

–

Explanation from the Election Commission

–

State Election Commission clarifies “Text of Proposal One, Amendment” online at https://elections.ny.gov/2024-statewide-ballot-proposal.

“A joint resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing an amendment to Article 1, Section 11 of the Constitution, with respect to equal protection.

“Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly agrees): That Section 11 of Article 1 of the Constitution be amended as follows:

“Section 11. A. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this State or any subdivision thereof. No one has rights because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed (or), religion, or gender, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health and autonomy, be subject to any discrimination in (his or her) their the civil rights of any other person or of any firm, corporation or institution, or of the state, or any agency or subdivision of a state, according to the law.

“b. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or prevent the enactment of any law, regulation, program, or practice intended to prevent or eliminate discrimination based on characteristics listed in this section, nor shall any characteristics listed in this section be construed how to interfere with, restrict, or deny the civil rights of any person on the basis of any other characteristic specified in this section.

“Section 2. Resolved (if the Assembly agrees) that the above amendment shall be submitted to the people for approval at the general election to be held in 2024 in accordance with the provisions of the election law.

“Explanation—Matter underlined (in bold on this page) is new; the content in parentheses ( ) is an old law that should be omitted.”