When voters in New York State head to the polls on Election Day, November 7, 2017, they'll be asked, basically, if the state should hold a constitutional convention. If approved, the vote triggers a two year process to determine, essentially, what in the state constitution should be amended, altered, deleted, added, etc.
Signs opposing the convention have already sprung up. Online comments across the region are not supportive. It's a moderately complicated process and WRN would encourage registered voters to take some time to learn about the ballot proposal.
Below is a flow chart showing the timeline (taken from http://www.newyorkconcon.info/).
Below that is information from the NYS Board of Elections.
ABSTRACT OF PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE, A QUESTION
The New York State Constitution requires that every 20 years the people decide if a
Constitutional Convention should be held to consider amendments to the State Constitution.
EXPLANATION--Matter in underscored is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. -Page 3
The purpose of this Ballot Question is to allow the voters of New York State to determine
whether a Constitutional Convention will be held in 2019.
If a majority voting on this Question votes NO, there will be no Constitutional
Convention.
If a majority votes YES, three delegates from each state senatorial district and 15 atlarge
statewide delegates will be elected in November 2018. The delegates will convene at the
Capitol in April 2019. Amendments adopted by a majority of the delegates will be submitted to
the voters for approval or rejection in a statewide referendum to be held at least six weeks
after the Convention adjourns. The delegates will determine whether to submit proposed
amendments as separate questions. Any amendments that the voters approve will go into
effect on the January 1 following their approval.
If a majority votes in favor of a Constitutional Convention, then the delegates will
receive for their services the same compensation as that payable to Members of the Assembly.
The delegates also will be reimbursed for actual traveling expenses while the Convention is in
session, to the extent that Members of the Assembly would be entitled reimbursement during a
session of the Legislature.
The delegates will have the power to appoint the officers, employees, and assistants
that they deem necessary and to fix the compensation of those officers, employees, and
assistants. The delegates also will have the power to provide for the expenses of the
Convention, including the printing of its documents, journal, and proceedings. The delegates
will determine the rules of their proceedings, choose their officers, and be the judge of the
election, returns, and qualifications of their members. A vacancy in an office of district
delegate will be filled by a vote of the remaining delegates representing the district in which the
vacancy occurs; a vacancy in the office of a delegate-at-large will be filled by a vote of the
remaining delegates-at-large.
FORM OF SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE, A QUESTION
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Shall there be a convention to revise the Constitution and amend the same?