Rockland County Wins Lawsuit Against NYS

By Idy Perl

Back in April, Rockland County, along with several other counties, filed a lawsuit against New York State regarding new re-election laws for local government. 

Governor Hochul passed a law last year which moved all local elections from taking place in odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. This wouold cause them to overlap and be overshadowed by state and federal elections, and would cut short the terms of many officials during the transition from an odd to even year.

Rockland County and seven other Republican counties in New York filed a lawsuit against the state for violating the New York State Constitution, which gives local government the ability to regulate local elections. 

As of yesterday the court agreed with the counties, and gave the power to regulate local elections back to the counties. 

“Local governments are the most responsive and responsible to the everyday person and play a vital governance role for drinking water, social services, sewage, zoning, schools, roads, parks, police, courts, jails, trash disposal — and more," County Executive Day said. "And we have a constitutional right to say how our local officials are chosen and thanks to this victory that will continue,”