January 6, 2023 (New York, NY) Citizen Action of New York remains committed to strengthening democratic processes so that everyone’s voice is heard. Today, we remember how dangerously close we came to losing our democracy on January 6, 2021.
The attempt to subvert the people’s will was not the first in U.S. history, but it was the most brazen in recent times and the culmination of a concerted effort years in the making. January 6 reminds us of the need to remain vigilant and redouble our efforts to protect and expand democracy in New York and across the nation. We continue to advocate for the successful implementation of the New York State Public Campaign Finance Program, which amplifies the power of ordinary New Yorkers at the ballot box.
We call on Governor Hochul to fully fund this critical program. In addition, we urge state legislators to create a voting and elections database that is key to implementing the historic NY Voting Rights Act, and to support the complete restoration of voting rights to people who are incarcerated.
The franchise must be made available to all New Yorkers, and we must not allow the monied few to subvert and undermine democracy. By working together, we can make 2023 a banner year for protecting the freedoms and voices of New York voters. Then when we look back on January 6, 2021, we will be able to confidently say that this generation did our part to help make our state and country a more perfect union.
