On June 13, Bryan Best, a legislative aide to Sen. Felder, met with Jessica Byrne, a member of NY State District 17 for Progress and the Brooklyn Voters Alliance, and Amanda Richie, also with the Brooklyn Voters Alliance. Ms Byrne recorded the following notes on the meeting:
(1) Concerning the Early Voting (S2950) and Electronic Poll Books (S2788) legislation before the Senate:
– Best said that Mr. Felder supports “high voter turn-out and voter participation in elections.”
– The legislation could still change, Best said, and therefore Mr. Felder has yet to take a position on it. However, “he is not a hard no” if these bills make it to the floor, and will vote with the majority in the Senate.
– Best said that Mr. Felder “has respect” for State Sen. Fred Akshar, who chairs the Senate’s Elections Committee and is the lead sponsor of S2788.
– Best said he will ask Mr. Felder to ask Sen. Flanagan to move these bills to the floor for a vote. The bills are currently in the Senate’s Rules Committee.
– Best also shared a personal experience with voting challenges. He once had a school board election to vote for, he said, and he almost didn’t make it to the polls in time because he had to work late.
(2) Regarding the New York State Liberty Act:
– Best said he personally did not recall meeting with anyone on this legislation in the past.
– Best said he anticipated meeting with someone later in the week about the bills.
– Best said he personally had no knowledge of, and no position on, this bill.
(3) Regarding holding a meeting with NY District 17 for Progress:
– Best said that Mr. Felder has said, “I want to meet with (them),” meaning the group, but suggested that the meeting would take place after the legislative session ends.
(4) Regarding constituent communication:
– Best asked what would be the most effective way to communicate with constituents. He asked if more emails would be helpful. Byrne said that constituents needed to hear more from Mr. Felder directly.
– Posted by John V. Santore based on notes by Jessica Byrne
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