About NYDLC

The New York Democratic Lawyers Council (NYDLC) is a coalition of attorneys, law students, and voting rights advocates who have a deep commitment to Democratic politics and who share the common goal of protecting each citizen’s right to vote.

NYDLC members are dedicated to fostering universal participation and trust in the electoral process by ensuring that: 

  1. all eligible persons can register to vote easily;
  2. all registered voters are able to vote conveniently, fairly, and without intimidation; and,
  3. all votes are counted accurately by transparent and reliable voting systems.

NYDLC welcomes attorneys, law students, educators, and others who support voting rights and share a passion for improving democracy to be a member of our organization. You can join NYDLC by clicking here. Membership costs $25/year and includes our weekly Democratic Law Briefs voting rights newsletter and discounts on CLEs and NYDLC events. *NYDLC's financial hardship policy (up to 100% exemption) will be granted upon request.

The New York Democratic Lawyers Council protects voting rights through three main prongs of civic engagement:

Election Monitoring - NYDLC recruits, trains, and deploys attorneys and pro-voter advocates to protect civil rights on Election Day at the polls, and assists with voter registration and education prior to Election Day. (See our Election Monitoring info page). 

Pro-Voter Advocacy - Members advocate for improvements in election laws and processes and against restrictive voting laws in New York City, New York State, and across the country through direct advocacy, legal research and drafting legislation or policy memos, and advising Elected Officials. Visit our Legislative Affairs Committee page for more information. 

Education and Community Empowerment - NYDLC advocates bring the issue of voting rights to the forefront of civic discourse. We convene CLE programs for attorneys and panel discussions on issues relevant to our mission and partner with community groups, political clubs, district leaders, and other civic organizations to raise awareness about the importance of participating in our democracy. Our flexible voting rights curriculum can be modified to fit the particular needs of various audiences. NYDLC's CLE Committee and Minority Voting Rights Committee are the driving forces behind our education and community empowerment programming. 

We encourage you to get involved in initiatives you are passionate about. With NYDLC you can:

  • - Protect the right to vote by serving as an Election monitor in NY and battlegrounds
  • - Advance our pro-voter legislative agenda by assisting with policy research and advocacy
  • - Organize, organize, organize! Plan voting rights events for attorneys, law students, and advocates
  • - Host a fundraising or recruiting event at your firm, law school, or civic group, with great speakers
  • - Develop or present a CLE or panel event on voting rights, democracy reform, civics, good government

The way America conducts its elections is a travesty. NYDLC continues to work with policymakers and administrators to reform and modernize our election systems at every step of the process.

Worse yet, voting rights are under attack in our country. The Republican Party is engaging in deliberate tactics to disenfranchise voters and suppress the will of the electorate. Often, these tactics deter and victimize some of our most vulnerable and marginalized neighbors.

Now more than ever, it is critical that Democratic attorneys and others who care about our precious and hard fought civil and political rights use their legal and advocacy skills to ensure not only that the right to vote is upheld, but that the opportunity to exercise the fundamental franchise is real.

Numerous legal advocacy and civil rights organizations work to promote voting rights, but none of these explicitly promotes the interests of Democratic Candidates. Given the recent weakening of the Voting Rights Act, the ubiquitous trend of State Legislatures passing Voter ID laws and other restrictive legislation, it is critical for Democrats to focus on strengthening and expanding voting rights. 

If you have questions about NYDLC or would like to get involved, please contact [email protected].


  • Latest from the blog

    Steering Committee March 31, 2022! 6:30 PM!

    NYDLC is excited to announce our March Steering Committee will be Thursday March 31, 6:30 pm, and there will be important discussions about key legislative priorities and voter protection opportunities: 2022 Midterms / Voter Protection Fundraising Update Legislative Priorities and Updates Update on key NYDLC priority legislation for 2022 aimed at (i) ensuring that NY has trustworthy voting machines; (ii) making sure that thousands of affidavit and absentee ballots of registered voters do not continue to be disqualified for technicalities; and (iii) making it easier for people to register and vote. Recruitment of NYDLC members to meet virtually with their representatives to help advance the NYDLC legislative agenda. Update on how to pass constitutional amendments for same day registration and no excuse absentee ballots, which failed at the ballot box in November 2021. Legal research/writers needed for bill memos to support NYDLC's legislative agenda. CLEs and Preparing for Caucus Weekend 2022 Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tf--trDIuHdAcxjnplthR9pnuwJmvY5Je Interested in joining a fantastic team in an important year as NYDLC Treasurer? Email [email protected]!Looking forward to seeing you!
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    Steering Committee Launch 2022

    NYDLC is excited to announce our first Steering Committee of the year, Thursday February 24, 2022, 6:30 pm, focusing on a launch of 2022 Initiatives: 2022 Midterms / Voter Protection Legislative Updates Redistricting Update CLEs on the Horizon Recruiting a new Treasurer Please register here:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqceCsrTIoEtBgqfvRRQ2hiU6qI9RImjSV Interested in joining a fantastic team in an important year as NYDLC Treasurer? Email [email protected]!We will also have some big NYDLC news!Looking forward to seeing you!
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    Resources Related to COVID-19

    COVID-19 is already complicating voting. A carefully planned and coordinated response will be needed in the weeks and months to come. Head over to our resources page or read below the break for some important resources related to voter protection in response to COVID-19.
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    NYDLC 3/15 Statement on COVID-19 Crisis

    NYDLC Co-chairs and leadership have released the following statement regarding electoral developments and the current state of emergency due to COVID-19:
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    How can we constructively manage risk of community spread of a novel virus, while making voters feel empowered to turnout and vote? Creative Commons  
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    Registration Deadlines

    The deadline for party registration for the NY Presidential Primary has already passed, but there is still time to meet all other NY election deadlines. Now is a good time to check all your voting vitals. Are you registered?Is your address still current?Do you know where your polling place is?Click here for all NY State Voting Deadlines.Click here for all other states.
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    NYDLC Hails Passage of Budget that Secures Voting Reforms

    For Immediate Release, April 1, 2019 Contact: (866) NYDLC-01; [email protected]   The New York Democratic Lawyers Council (@NYDLC) applauds state lawmakers for securing new voting reforms for all New Yorkers. 
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    NYDLC Announces New Executive Director -- Democratic Organizer Liza Abraham

    For Immediate Release, Mar. 20, 2019 Contact: (866) NYDLC-01; [email protected]   The New York Democratic Lawyers Council (@NYDLC) is excited to announce that Liza Abraham, 2018 Western NY Regional Organizer for the NYS Dems 2018 Coordinated Campaign, has taken up the reigns as Executive Director of NYDLC, just as the 2019-20 election cycle heats up.
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    Modern Voting Laws and a Historic Black History Month

    By Carl Unegbu, Rachel Landy, and Jarret Berg This year’s Black History Month celebrations coincided with some remarkable developments in New York law that have a genuine potential to enhance access to the democratic space and improve civic engagement and political participation. And, needless to say, they are of significant interest to the Black community and should interest all minority communities.
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    NYDLC Hails NYS Legislature's Passage of Broad Pro-Voter Package of Election Reform Bills

    For Immediate Release, Jan 14, 2019Contact: (866) NYDLC-01; [email protected] The New York Democratic Lawyers Council (@NYDLC) hails the speedy passage, through both houses of the New York State Legislature, of a package of election reforms that NYDLC members have fought for years to enact that will improve access to fundamental rights for the benefit of ALL eligible New Yorkers and finally begin to modernize New York's voting laws.
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