What is Prop 1, really?
We’ve seen the signs. They are…confusing. While casting a ballot in the 2024 General Election, voters are reminded to flip over their ballots to weigh in on propositions, statewide and local, depending on your municipality.
Across New York State, all voters will weigh in on Proposition 1, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment. This is the text you’ll see when you flip over your ballot (in New York State):
“This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
A ‘YES’ vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.
A ‘NO’ vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.”
According to the state Board of Elections: This proposal amends Article 1, Section 11 of the New York Constitution. Section 11 now protects against unequal treatment based on race, color, creed, and religion. The proposal will amend the act to also protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The amendment allows laws to prevent or undo past discrimination.
“Prop 1 does not address parental rights, which are governed by other developed areas of State and federal law,” the New York City Bar Association Committee stated. “Prop 1 does not change existing law with respect to parental consent, or parents’ ability to be involved in decision-making about healthcare or medical procedures for their minor children, including gender-affirming care.”
In addition, the bar association adds that “Prop 1 will not change current law with respect to participation on sports teams. Prop 1 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. Prop 1 does not change existing law and has no explicit provision relating to participation on sports teams. Prop 1 is consistent with Title IX, the controlling federal law that has already been interpreted by federal courts to require young people to play on sports teams that match their gender identity and expression.”
“The truth is, New York law already requires parental consent for minors to undergo any gender-affirming care procedure, and Prop 1 doesn’t alter that,” said State Sen. Liz Krueger, the sponsor of the bill. “Anti-abortion operatives are just spreading this disinformation because they know Prop 1 is overwhelmingly popular and supported by New Yorkers across the state. Prop 1 is about protecting abortion and our reproductive rights …Prop 1 will guarantee our reproductive freedoms — so that no matter who is in office, New Yorkers can get the care they want and need.”
Read more “Prop 1: What the Amendment Will and Won’t Do”: https://www.nycbar.org/reports/prop-1-ny-equal-rights-amendment-what-the-amendment-will-and-wont-do/
More on the proposition from the NYS Board of Elections: https://elections.ny.gov/2024-statewide-ballot-proposal
Applications requesting to receive an early mail ballot must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than ten days before the election.
For more information, visit https://elections.ny.gov or your local Board of Elections.
