Don’t Forget to Turn over your Ballot and VOTE YES
What is a Ballot Measure?
In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide. Voters in East Hampton have several important ballot measures to support this November.
At the STATE Level – The Equal Rights Amendment
Abortion is on the ballot in NY State in 2024
The ballot measure would amend the Equal Protection Clause of the New York Constitution to prohibit a person’s rights from being denied based on the person’s “ethnicity, national origin, age, [and] disability,” as well as the person’s “sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
At a time when reproductive rights are under attack across the country, we need to cement our fundamental rights and reproductive freedoms in the state constitution so they are permanently protected and cannot be rolled back in the future.
Prop 1 also closes loopholes in the state constitution to make sure that no New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, pregnancy status, disability status, or whether someone is LGBT.
Please be aware that the local and State Republican Party and their candidates are spreading lies and misinformation about Prop 1. Their fear mongering campaign is being funded by anti-abortion groups.
Here are the facts: Prop 1 WILL NOT impact parental rights, WILL NOT change current law with respect to participation on sports teams and WILL NOT impact or change the qualifications for voting.
At the COUNTY Level – Water Quality
Suffolk County voters get to choose this November about whether to fund a water quality improvement plan through a tax increase.
A “yes” vote on the ballot measure authorizes the county to enact a 1/8-cent sales tax increase. The revenue—projected to reach $3 billion over the coming decades—will support a range of projects to reduce nitrogen pollution in surface and groundwater, including the creation of a wastewater management district and an overhaul of aging septic systems.
At the TOWN Level – Infrastructure
This referendum is about voting to allow the transfer a parcel of land from the Town of East Hampton to Suffolk County in order to facilitate a necessary roadway improvement project in East Hampton. The land is at the intersection of the easterly side of Three Mile Harbor Road with the westerly side of Springs Fireplace Road.
If this referendum is approved by voters, the Town of East Hampton will convey (transfer) the property at the intersection of Three Mile Harbor and Springs Fireplace to Suffolk County. Suffolk County will then determine what type of roadway improvement makes the most sense whether that is redesigning the intersection with a roundabout, a traffic light or some other option under consideration.
The Town Board will not be deciding what roadway improvement solution is implemented as this is a County funded project on two County roads.
If the referendum does not pass, Suffolk County will need to explore alternative strategies to address the ongoing traffic and safety concerns within the confines of the current intersection.