After my endorsed candidate Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign this week, Joe Biden became the sole remaining Democrat and presumptive Democratic nominee for President. Admittedly, I am still coming to terms with the fact that Bernie won’t be our next president, but I meant it when I said I will never stop fighting for us. And that fight is right now.
There is a provision in the state budget (NYS7506B) allowing candidates who have dropped out of the race to be removed from the ballot. There have been strong indications from the NY Board of Election that the presidential primary will likely be canceled as a result.
You may be thinking, Okay, but why does that matter if Joe Biden is already the nominee? But not having the presidential primary in New York State would mean a reduced number of delegates at the Democratic Convention. It would deprive both the state and Bernie supporters like myself what is likely our last chance to cast votes for Senator Sanders. It would disenfranchise New Yorkers who have worked tirelessly the chance to see their candidate of choice on the ballot.
Also, June 23rd is not just the primary for the presidential election. It’s also the primary for down-ballot federal, state and local elections. It’s a fact: more voters vote in presidential primaries than in any other type of primary election. If the NY presidential primary is canceled, all primary elections that day will suffer from low voter turn-out.
As long as voters are safe, which we will be with absentee or universal mail-in ballots (which I am also calling for), we deserve the right to vote and exercise our Democratic voice, and healthy participation in down-ballot races.
