With so much at stake and so much up for grabs this Election Day, it’s easy to see why New Yorkers might not be familiar with a proposition on the ballot this year.

On Election Day, voters in New York should check both sides of their ballots as there are six measures to keep in mind. The first of these is Proposition 1, a proposed constitutional amendment called the “Equal Rights Amendment.”

Here’s what Proposition 1 says, plus what supporters and opponents say about it.

What is New York’s Proposition 1?

Here is the wording of Proposition 1, which, according to the State Board of Elections (BOE) website, would amend Section 11 of Article 1 of the state Constitution:

11. A. No person shall be denied equal protection under the laws of this state or any part thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy, be subject to any discrimination in ( his or her) civil rights by another person or by a company, undertaking or institution, or by the State or any agency or subdivision of the State, pursuant to law.
    B. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or prevent the adoption of any law, regulation, program, or practice designed to prevent or dismantle discrimination based on any characteristic listed in this section, nor shall any characteristic contained in this section section listed shall be construed to interfere with, limit, or deny the civil rights of any person based on any other characteristic listed in this section.

How does that differ from what it says now?

In fact, the Constitution protects against “unequal treatment based on race, color, creed, and religion,” according to the BOE website. Under the new proposal, the BOE said the Constitution would also protect against unequal treatment based on “ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive health care.” and autonomy.”

Who is against/for proposal 1?

Much of the debate surrounding the proposal centers on protecting abortion rights, even though the word “abortion” appears nowhere on the ballot. And critics have said there’s something else in Prop 1 that confuses them.

Sasha Ahuja, who leads a coalition of organizations urging New Yorkers to vote yes, said Proposition 1 adds abortion protections to the state constitution and closes loopholes to ensure no one has to deal with discrimination.

“Seventy-one percent of New Yorkers support us when they hear about a measure on the agenda to protect our rights and freedoms,” Ahuja said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul voiced his support in a Daily News op-ed, saying, “It’s a vote to ensure that women, not politicians like me, have the power to make decisions about their own bodies.”

Meanwhile, former Republican Party gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin joined a coalition pushing for a “No” vote.

“This is about all kinds of other issues that have nothing to do with abortion,” Zeldin said.

He and other critics have said the proposal’s language is vague and opens the door to constitutional changes that could impact schools, voting rights and families.

“It may sound great to protect against the unequal treatment of these classes, but it is quite the opposite,” said Liza Azzarelli of the group Save Our Schools on Long Island.

“They want to pass this because they want to disrupt the family dynamic,” said state Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, who represents Suffolk County.

But Ahuja denied these claims, saying those opposed to the measure were “trying to divide and distract New Yorkers.”

The two parties agree on one thing: Voters should read and inform themselves about Proposition 1 before voting.

When is election day?

Election day is Tuesday, November 5. Polling stations open at 6am and close at 9pm, although anyone queuing to vote at that time is eligible to vote.

How to Register to Vote in New York

New Yorkers who want to participate in this year’s elections and have yet to register must meet certain criteria:

• Be a US citizen;
• Although citizens can pre-register at age 16 or 17, they cannot vote until they are 18 years old;
• Be a resident of this state and the county, city or town in which they register for at least 30 days before the election;
• Not being in jail for a felony conviction;
• Not being declared mentally incompetent by a court;
• Do not claim the right to vote elsewhere

In New York State, you can register in person in the following ways:

In New York State, you can request a registration form in the following ways:

Once the form is completed, send the form to your local board of elections.

In order to be able to vote in the General Elections, registrations must be submitted no later than October 26. Personal registration must also be done no later than October 26.