In a significant legal victory, Rockland County has successfully challenged a New York State law that would have required local elections to be held exclusively in even-numbered years. This law would have reduced the terms of county officials by one year and aligned local elections with state and federal races, contrary to the provisions of Rockland’s local charter.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Attorney Thomas Humbach, who spearheaded the lawsuit, announced the win, asserting that the law unfairly targeted suburban and rural counties. While urban legislators, whose regions were unaffected, largely supported the bill, suburban and rural representatives opposed it by a two-to-one margin.
“Local governments play a crucial role in managing essential services such as drinking water, zoning, schools, roads, and more. We have a constitutional right to decide how our officials are chosen, and this victory ensures that right remains intact,” said County Executive Day.
The lawsuit, filed on April 22, 2024, aimed to protect the rights of Rockland residents in determining the timing and frequency of their local elections. The court’s decision, siding with Rockland and other counties, delivered a sharp rebuke to the state law. County Attorney Humbach noted that the law was found to be deeply flawed, referencing the court’s comparison to a “mirage” of constitutional rights, much like the defunct Soviet Union’s constitution—where rights exist only on paper.
The full court decision is available for public review by clicking here.