Agudath Israel of America applauds the New York State Legislature for their recent action (A8917, S7597) moving the 2018 primaries from Tuesday September 11th 2018 to Thursday September 13th. This year Tuesday September 11th falls out on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, thus preventing observant Jews from exercising their right to vote. The bill, sponsored by Senator Simcha Felder and Assemblymember Robert Carroll passed both the Senate and Assembly unanimously and awaits Governor Cuomo’s signature.

“To have an election on a day where so many would be precluded from voting due to religious reasons would be inherently unfair” said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive vice President of Agudath Israel “and we thank the legislature for correcting this. We are particularly grateful to Senator Felder and Assemblymember Carroll for their leadership on this issue.”

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