On Friday, members of the Albany County Legislature were joined by the Legislature’s Board of Elections Task Force and the League of Women Voters to announce efforts to educate youth and increase awareness on voter rights through an “I Voted” Sticker Contest along with legislation to establish a voter disclosure policy.

The contest, which will be launched in the coming month, is a collaborative effort between the Legislature and the League of Women Voters to engage more youth in the democratic process through education and awareness. The stickers will be designed by County youth and distributed on Election Day in November 2023.

“Our young people are our future voters and the future of democracy. I love the idea of involving our young people in the voting process. This contest will help the students learn about the importance of voting and spark their creativity and imagination. I look forward to seeing the entries and meeting the artists,” said Legislator Vicky Plotsky, who spearheaded the initiative.

“While young people are organizing in places like Tennessee to fight for safety in their classrooms and for democracy, it’s important to remind young people in Albany County about the strength of their vote and the democratic process,” said Chairman Andrew Joyce. “While they may not be old enough to vote, now is the perfect time to learn about this sacred fundamental right, and take their chance at putting their mark on the process by designing their own “I Voted” sticker. We thank Albany County Legislator Vicky Plotsky for introducing this initiative, and for the League of Women Voters for participating.”

“Since 2010, the League of Women Voters has aimed through its national Youth Voter Registration Project to bring more young people into the democratic process. The League of Women Voters of Albany County puts a high priority on encouraging the youth vote. Our school liaison volunteers contact every secondary school in the County every year, to provide a voter registration drive in the school or to provide the materials and training for the schools to hold their own registration drives. This contest will provide a creative opportunity to engage the youth in Albany County in our democracy,” said Deborah Liebman, 1st Vice President and Director of Voter Services League of Women Voters of Albany County.

In addition to the contest, Legislators Matthew Peter and Dustin Reidy are co-sponsoring legislation to establish a voter disclosure policy in Albany County that would amend the current NYS Voter Bill of Rights posted in election places along with changes to the County Board of Elections. If approved by the New York State Board of Elections, the changes to the flyer would be clearly visible at all polling entrances and exits and would include a QR code that brings voters to the County Board of Elections website. The website would be updated to include a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section related to voting, similar to the State Board of Elections website.

“Today we are proposing and advocating for greater clarity and transparency when voters go to their polling location,” said Peter. “While the NYS Voter’s Bill of Rights is present at polling places, it is often hard to find and lacks crucial information, leading to unnecessary confusion and misinformation at the voting booth. We want to make sure that whether somebody needs information on where to vote, when to get an affidavit ballot, or whether they have to show ID at the polls, a clear and concise answer is available and in a very public spot. Doing so will lead to a decrease in frustration and confusion between the voter and the poll workers while making sure all voters rights are protected.”

“Our right to vote is our most fundamental right and provides the foundation for our democracy,” said Legislator Dustin Reidy. “The Albany County Legislature has been a leader in increasing voter access and the Voter Disclosure Policy is another important tool in enshrining the right to vote by providing individuals with the information and FAQs they need to confidently cast their vote at polling sites in the County.”

The legislation will be referred to the Law Committee in April for further discussion.

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