N.Y. Election Law § 17-200: Legislative purpose and statement of public policy

§ 17-200. Legislative purpose and statement of public policy. In

recognition of the protections for the right to vote provided by the

constitution of the state of New York, which substantially exceed the

protections for the right to vote provided by the constitution of the

United States, and in conjunction with the constitutional guarantees of

equal protection, freedom of expression, and freedom of association

under the law and against the denial or abridgement of the voting rights

of members of a race, color, or language-minority group, it is the

public policy of the state of New York to:

1. Encourage participation in the elective franchise by all eligible

voters to the maximum extent; and

2. Ensure that eligible voters who are members of racial, color, and

language-minority groups shall have an equal opportunity to participate

in the political processes of the state of New York, and especially to

exercise the elective franchise.