The TV ad funded by the Vote No on Prop 1 Committee claims that a New York ballot measure aimed at enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution will also benefit illegal immigrants and potentially allow non-citizens to vote in New York elections. The ad states that the proposal would make the broken border situation worse by providing equal rights protections based on national origin. It warns that this could block local efforts to address the migrant crisis, grant illegal immigrants constitutional rights to taxpayer benefits, and open the door to non-citizens voting.
The Vote No on Prop 1 Committee is launching a TV ad campaign statewide to oppose the ballot measure, with a significant financial investment likely reaching seven figures. Critics of the proposition have highlighted the vague language of the amendment, pointing out that although it is promoted as a measure to protect abortion rights, the text of the ballot question does not include the word “abortion.” The proposal also includes language regarding equal rights based on pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare and autonomy, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, and gender expression.
Opponents of Prop 1 argue that the broad language of the proposal could have unintended consequences, such as allowing biological males who identify as transgender to compete against women in sports or allowing minors to undergo sexual reassignment surgery without parental consent. They also claim that the measure could impact merit-based criteria for acceptance into specialized high schools in New York City and disproportionately affect Asian American students. The Vote No on Prop 1 Committee was registered with the state Board of Elections in late September and has not yet disclosed any financial reports.
Supporters of Prop 1, the New Yorkers for Equal Rights group, argue that the measure is necessary to protect equal rights for all New Yorkers, including those related to reproductive healthcare, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, and gender expression. The group, which includes organizations such as the New York Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, and labor unions, has spent over $2.8 million advocating for the measure over several years. Despite opposition from groups like the Coalition to Protect Kids, polling indicates that a majority of voters support Prop 1, although opposition has grown in suburban districts with competitive congressional races.
Critics of Prop 1 accuse opponents of engaging in fear-based tactics to undermine the measure. The Coalition to Protect Kids, the main anti-Prop 1 committee, has spent significantly less on its campaign compared to the well-funded New Yorkers for Equal Rights group. The ballot measure has sparked contentious debate in New York, with concerns raised about the potential implications of the broad language used in the proposal. The outcome of the vote on Prop 1 will have significant implications for various issues, including abortion rights, immigration, voting rights, and education policy in the state.
