Court Overturns Voting Law Used To Pressure New York Towns Into Accepting Illegal Migrants

A New York State Supreme Court judge has struck down the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act (NYVRA), a 2022 law that critics say was being used by Democrats to force towns into adopting progressive policies, including accepting illegal immigrants. The court ruled the law unconstitutional, stating it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The NYVRA required towns accused of past discrimination to seek approval from the state before making changes to their voting systems. Democrats used this provision to file lawsuits against towns with at-large voting systems, which allow all voters to elect board members. Critics argue this law was less about fairness and more about advancing an illegal immigration agenda.

In Newburgh, six Black and Hispanic residents claimed the town’s at-large voting system diluted minority voting power. They demanded single-member districts, which would allow each district to elect its own representative. The court rejected this, finding the NYVRA was explicitly race-based and unconstitutional. The judge stated, “For Plaintiffs to suggest that the NYVRA is not a race-based statute is simply to deny the obvious.”

Mount Pleasant faced a similar lawsuit earlier this year. Hispanic plaintiffs argued that the town’s voting system prevented them from gaining political influence, despite Sleepy Hollow — part of Mount Pleasant — having its own government. The plaintiffs’ goal appeared to align with forcing Mount Pleasant to accept illegal immigrants after it issued an emergency order barring such arrivals.

The court’s decision to overturn the NYVRA effectively ends these lawsuits and safeguards towns from politically motivated interference. Local leaders say the law was an attempt to strong-arm municipalities into complying with progressive demands that burdened already strained resources.

Conservatives see this ruling as a victory for local governance and constitutional principles. By striking down the NYVRA, the court has ensured that towns retain control over their election systems and are not forced to adopt policies against their will.

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