New York’s highest court affirmed that state lawmakers had the proper authority when they expanded who was eligible to vote by mail last year.

The Court of Appeals ruled 6-1 to uphold a state Supreme Court judge’s decision that a law created in 2023 that allows any registered voter to request an early mail ballot is constitutional.

"This is really important for people who live in rural New York, people who work, seniors who have trouble getting to the polls. This is really about expanding the Democratic power of voting to every New Yorker," bill sponsor Assemblymember Karines Reyes, D-Bronx, said.

The law was challenged by U.S. Rep. Rep. Elise Stefanik and backed by the state Republican Party.

"New York's court system is so corrupt and disgraceful that today's ruling has essentially declared that for over 150 years, New York's elected officials, voters, and judges misunderstood their own state's Constitution, and that in-person voting was never required outside the current legal absentee process," Stefanik said in a statement.

Plaintiffs argued over if the meaning of the words "at an election" mean voters are legally required to vote at a polling place. They also discussed the intent versus functionality of a 1966 amendment which eliminated language that more plainly defined that requirement. The court did grapple with the history of the constitutional provision's interpretation. It acknowledged as recently as 2021, the Legislature appeared to believe it needed a constitutional amendment to enact no-excuse absentee voting.

"Fortunately our Court of Appeals saw through Elise Stefanik's and Republican's efforts to keep people from voting," Sen. Michael Gianaris said in a statement. "This law is not only constitutional but to the great benefit of New Yorkers. I hope voters remember which party wants to facilitate their voting power and which one wants to deny it."

The general public voted down that amendment by referendum.

Attorney Joe Burn, who filed an amicus brief in the case on behalf of right-leaning non-profit Center for Election Confidence, said the court got it wrong.

"Non-lawyers, any member of the public, could certainly read the state Constitution and see that there are only certain circumstances where absentee ballots are permitted and the court simply ignored that today," Burns said.

New York state Attorney General Tish James noted judges at every level of the state judicial system rejected the lawsuit.

"While some want to put up roadblocks and stifle New Yorkers' ability to exercise their constitutional right to vote, I will always stand up and protect this basic, yet essential freedom," she said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul called the ruling "a significant victory for democracy and another loss for those who seek to disenfranchise New Yorkers and undermine access to the ballot.