Spring Valley NAACP v. Rockland County Board of Elections

Lawsuit Seeks Extra Three Hours Per Day, Greater Accommodations for Voters with Disabilities

The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Rockland County Board of Elections to address long lines and inadequate accommodations for voters during early voting. Filed on behalf of the Spring Valley and Nyack Branches of the NAACP and several individual voters, the suit seeks the immediate extension of poll site hours for the remainder of early voting and the addition of signage offering accommodations for voters who require them.

During the first weekend of early voting lines in Rockland were particularly long, and turnout to polling sites during the second weekend are expected to increase. New York regulations dictate that County boards deploy sufficient resources to ensure voters do not wait more than 30 minutes, but thus far Rockland County has failed to abide by that requirement.

Voters intending to vote at Rockland County sites were deterred or prevented from voting due to long lines and an absence of accommodations.