Voting law changes are coming for New Yorkers.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation approved earlier this year that she says expands and strengthens the basic right to vote.
"Our laws are going to modernize and improve every step of the process from registering to casting your ballot to the Electoral College," Hochul said.
The governor signed 10 laws in total Wednesday at New York Law School. The laws build on New York's John Lewis Voting Rights Act signed last year. Among those signed is a law that expands early voting by mail.
The law now allows any registered New York voter to submit an early ballot in the mail.
"We saw it worked during the pandemic, we can do this. We know that every day people are so busy," Hochul said.
Hochul said New York also is creating same-day voter registration and expanding registration, pre-registration and voter education programs.
Jails will also be required to provide voter registration forms to those incarcerated as soon as they are released.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik and other House Republicans, including those in the New York delegation, filed a lawsuit against Hochul and the state, saying the new law goes against a 2021 statewide referendum in which voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to create a system of no-excuse absentee ballots in New York.