A coalition of good-government organizations on Friday endorsed moving New York's presidential primary from April 28 to June 23 amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Their letter -- signed by Common Cause, the New York League of Women Voters, the New York Public Interest Research Group, Citizens Union and Reinvent Albany -- comes days after elections commissioners in the state also endorsed the move, as have several state lawmakers. 

The concern is two-fold: Holding a primary across the state as people are discouraged from large gatherings could help spread the virus further and also depress turnout. 

"Postponing the April primary will allow election administrators time to prepare for new challenges created by the outbreak such as responding to an increase in absentee ballot requests, hiring new poll workers who are not at high risk of contracting the virus, and informing the public of any poll site changes due to restrictions on the use of public spaces," the groups wrote in the letter. "The New York State Election Commissioner Association has raised these concerns and asked that the primary be postponed and that additional resources be made available to overcome these challenges."

For now, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not embraced the push to move the primary, but his administration is considering an expansion of absentee ballot qualifications. 

But allowing more people to vote by absentee ballot presents its own challenges, too, including printing enough to meet demand. 

The April 28 vote will also include special elections for a House seat in western New York and for a state Senate district in the Syracuse area. 

Voters are set to return to the polls on June 23 for congressional and state primaries. 

"With less than a month left until the April primary, we urge you to act swiftly and consolidate the presidential primary and special elections to June so counties can begin to plan effectively," the good-government groups wrote. "If you fail to act, you will risk the health and well-being of countless voters and election administrators."