NEW YORK (AP) New York state will soon join most other states in allowing voters to cast a ballot before election day.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law on Thursday that authorizes in-person early voting up to 10 days before an election. He was joined at a Manhattan bill signing ceremony by actor and producer Ben Stiller.
Stiller was a vocal supporter of the changes, which had been blocked for years by Republicans in the state Senate. The bills all passed earlier this month, following a Democratic takeover of the Senate in last year's elections.
Cuomo also signed into law bills that will consolidate multiple primary elections and make other updates to decades-old voting rules.
He says the changes should boost New York's voter turnout, which typically lags other states.
