ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A state judge is expected to rule this week on the wording of New York’s referendum to establish a new commission to determine voting districts for the state Legislature and Congress.
Common Cause-New York, a government watchdog group, wants to re-word the ballot question, arguing that “independent” is a misleading description of the proposed commission since top legislators would choose most members.
The state Board of Elections, which wrote the language, says that word isn’t misleading, and the board needs Justice Patrick McGrath’s ruling next week to process ballots in time.
State political districts are redrawn every decade in a process good-government groups have long said protects incumbents.
Another group, Citizens Union of the City of New York, says the constitutional amendment contains a provision to prevent that.
