At a board meeting held on February 12, 2026, the commissioners of the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) approved an advisory opinion allowing political committees to accept cryptocurrency contributions....more
As the country enters a midterm election year, Republican Members in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a comprehensive election reform proposal. The bill, known as the Make Elections Great Again Act (MEGA...more
After spending the last six months in their districts, New York State legislators have returned to Albany, and the 2026 legislative session is now underway. Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address and...more
On January 21, 2026, in a decision in the case of Williams v. Board of Elections of the State of New York, a Manhattan Supreme Court Justice held that the boundaries of New York’s 11th Congressional District were in violation...more
In a lawsuit filed in Albany County Supreme Court, former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo is challenging the ability of the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) to pursue ethics charges against...more
The New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) adopted its 2026 legislative agenda. COELIG’s 2026 agenda includes proposals that address topics as varied as public disclosure of candidate ethics...more
On December 19, 2025, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law bill S.7111-A/A.7862-A, a bill empowering the state committees of political parties, under certain circumstances, to initiate proceedings to disenroll members...more
In recent decades, the national political party conventions have ceased to be actual contests over presidential and vice-presidential nominations. The days of deal making between state party bosses and multi-round balloting...more
On December 5, 2025, New York State Governor Kathy Hohul signed into law a bill that expands the requirement that most political and campaign materials identify the political committee paying for the materials. Specifically,...more
On November 24, 2025, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lyle Frank denied a request by state court judges to invalidate New York State’s mandatory retirement age for judges. The plaintiffs are all sitting Justices of the New...more
12/1/2025
/ Appeals ,
Constitutional Amendment ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ,
Judges ,
Judicial Authority ,
Judicial Review ,
New York ,
Retirement ,
State and Local Government ,
State Constitutions ,
Statutory Interpretation
On November 24, 2025, Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE) sent a letter to the Co-Executive Directors of the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) raising concerns that New York’s voter registration...more
On November 20, 2025, New York State’s highest court rejected a constitutional challenge from the Town of Newburgh to the state Voting Rights Act. The Court of Appeals held that the Town of Newburgh, a political subdivision...more
As New York approaches the 2026 election cycle, Independent Expenditure (IE) committees are poised to play an outsized role in shaping statewide and legislative races. For political consultants, this dramatically increases...more
As 2026 approaches, many campaigns for state legislature or statewide office are weighing whether to opt in to New York State’s public campaign finance program. The program’s generous matching formula can dramatically reshape...more
In a unanimous decision with major implications for elections in the Empire State, the New York State Court of Appeals has upheld the state’s Even Year Election Law (EYEL), rejecting claims by several local governments that...more
President Trump Orders Investigation into Impermissible Use of Federal Grant Funds for Lobbying -
President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether federal...more
On September 25, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM‑7), a memorandum entitled “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence.” While the memorandum...more
Former FEC Chairmen Urge Supreme Court to Clarify Bribery Standard, Warn Against Criminalizing Routine Campaign Interactions...more
9/4/2025
/ Bribery ,
Campaign Finance Reform ,
Certiorari ,
Criminal Investigations ,
Data Reporting ,
Deep Fake ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Federal Election Commission (FEC) ,
Guilty Pleas ,
Mail-In Ballots ,
Plea Agreements ,
Political Campaigns ,
Political Parties ,
Presidential Memorandum ,
Reporting Requirements ,
SCOTUS ,
Trump Administration ,
Voter Registration ,
Wire Fraud
Supreme Court Preview: NRSC v. FEC -
On June 30, 2025, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear what may be the most significant campaign finance case since Citizens United freed corporate entities to spend...more
7/31/2025
/ Advertising ,
Campaign Finance Reform ,
Campaign Funds ,
Certiorari ,
Churches ,
Cooperative Compliance Regime ,
Endorsements ,
Ethics ,
Federal Election Commission (FEC) ,
First Amendment ,
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) ,
IRS ,
Political Campaigns ,
Political Candidates ,
Political Contributions ,
Political Parties ,
Redistricting ,
SCOTUS ,
Sovereign Immunity
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently suggested that the Empire State could undertake a mid-decade redistricting of its congressional districts, apparently as a form of political retaliation against Republican-led states...more
DOJ Declines to Defend Party Coordinated Expenditure Limits Before Supreme Court, Urges Court to Invalidate Limits -
On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) responded to the petition for writ of certiorari...more
6/2/2025
/ Certiorari ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Federal Election Campaign Act ,
First Amendment ,
Government Agencies ,
Political Campaigns ,
Political Contributions ,
Political Parties ,
SCOTUS
On March 28, 2025, the New York State Senate Elections Committee met and voted to approve seven bills...more
In Compliance: Holtzman Vogel's Monthly Round-Up In this March 2025 issue of In Compliance, we cover the following topics:
President Trump Issues Executive Order on Election Integrity -
Treasury Department Eliminates...more
4/1/2025
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Campaign Finance Reform ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Executive Orders ,
Lobbying ,
New Legislation ,
Political Campaigns ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Legislatures ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Voting Rights
The New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) approved and released its 2025 list of legislative proposals...more
In a letter dated January 31, 2025, President Trump informed FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub that she is "hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately.” Weintraub made the letter public in...more
2/27/2025
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Cooperative Compliance Regime ,
Election Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Election Commission (FEC) ,
FinCEN ,
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Political Campaigns ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
State Elections ,
Trump Administration