Election 2024: Here’s what you need to know about Proposition 1 on your ballot in New York

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – When you return your ballot to the polling booth this election, you will be asked to vote on a statewide proposition. But what is it all about? Why is it controversial? Who supports it and which groups oppose it?

What is proposal 1?

Proposition 1, also called the Equal Rights Amendment, aims to protect access to abortion in New York and add new protected classes to the state’s Equal Rights Amendment to prohibit discrimination against any person or group.

“No person shall be denied equal protection under the laws of this state or any part thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy, be subject to any discrimination in ( his or her) their civil rights by another person or by a company, corporation or institution, or by the state or an agency or subdivision of the state, pursuant to law,” the voting proposal reads.

Proposal 1 adds language to the amendment that would “prevent or dismantle discrimination based on protected characteristics.” Furthermore, it would prohibit anyone from “interfering with, restricting, or denying” the civil rights of anyone.

Which groups want to see the proposal adopted?

Most Democrats, equal rights activists, and all groups that want to expand equal rights for all appear to be in favor of passing Proposition 1.

“We essentially passed the 28th Amendment, the Equal Rights Amendment, after more than 100 years of advocacy. However, it has yet to be published in the Constitution,” explains Lorie Honor, co-founder of Staten Island Women Who March, and chief of staff of Vote Equality, a national organization whose mission is to raise awareness of gender equality not in the US Constitution.

“It is very, very important, and we hope that it will be a priority in a new government. But in the meantime, all states are trying to figure out how we can protect more of our people, in our communities, in our neighborhoods. This is Proposition 1 for New York,” the Stapleton resident added.

Honor organized a grassroots movement of mostly women who distributed flyers and information about Proposition 1 on Staten Island. Their goal is to inform residents of the municipality about the voting proposal.

Who is against proposal 1?

Many Republicans have spoken out about the voting proposal. Several elected officials on the island expressed opposition to the proposal targeting transgender people in sports. In fact, a group of New York City conservatives took to the steps of City Hall on October 21 to call for votes against the ballot measure.

“Proponents say the bill is about abortion, but that’s not even mentioned in the text,” said Assemblyman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore). “And there is no threat to abortion in New York State. It’s not happening. The goal is to use the issue of abortion to implement various protections that would likely not happen on their own.”

Many Republicans have opposed transgender people in sports.

“The purpose (of Proposition 1) is to provide protections, specifically for national origin and for gender identity. …How are people discriminated against based on national origin and gender? And the two things they are discriminated against are, in some cases, participation in sports. And national origin is about voting and accessing public benefits… so that’s the only goal. Everything else is just a plus,” Borelli added.