We urge New York’s candidates for federal and state office to join in a bipartisan effort affirming the importance and the integrity of the outcome of the state’s upcoming elections. Every elected official swears to support and defend the federal and state Constitutions. That promise hinges on a commitment to abide by the certified results of elections, without regard to party or power. Comments by candidates for office that echo assertions – without evidence – that previous elections have been “stolen,” or otherwise raise such concerns, undermine that commitment.

New York has a robust election security system that allows challenges to election results and contains mechanisms for the audits of results and recounts. For example, many of our groups fought for and won a requirement in state law that election integrity be underpinned by paper ballots that can be counted in the event of a challenge. Thus, we urge that candidates for New York office safeguard the integrity of the state elections by:

• providing poll workers and election officials the space to do their jobs while conducting monitoring of polls and processes consistent with the requirements in state election law;
• defending the process of state certification;
• recognizing the election winners certified under New York’s law;
• opposing efforts to undermine elections or override those outcomes; and
• serving as a responsible voice affirming the integrity of New York’s election results and challenging those seeking to undermine those results.

Since the beginning of the nation, New York’s electeds have honored the decisions by voters regardless of who prevails. New York’s candidates for office must commit to that principle ahead of the 2026 elections — defending state certification, recognizing certified winners, and opposing any effort to cast doubt on the integrity of New York’s system.

For more information:

Grace Rauh, Citizens Union, grauh@citizensunion.org
Susan Lerner, Common Cause/NY, slerner@commoncause.org
Erica Smitka, League of Women Voters, NYS, erica@lwvny.org
Elizabeth Kocienda, New York City Bar Association, ekocienda@nycbar.org
Blair Horner, N.Y.P.I.R.G., bhorner@nypirg.org
Alex Camarda, Reinvent Albany, alex@reinventalbany.org