Democracy Coalition Coordinator at Citizen Action of New York Karen Wharton said, "On Democracy Day, we applaud the New York State Senate for taking decisive action to protect our elections from corruption and foreign-influenced corporate spending. By passing the Democracy Preservation Act, the Senate is closing dangerous loopholes and strengthening New York's public campaign finance system - ensuring small donors, not foreign-influenced corporations, shape our democracy and government. We now urge the Assembly to act swiftly and the Governor to sign this bill into law, so these critical protections reach voters across New York."

Director of State & Local Policy at New York Immigration Coalition Taina Wagnac said, "Democracy works best when every New Yorker can participate without fear, confusion, or exclusion. We recognize the Senate's work on Democracy Day to advance legislation focused on voter protections, access, and election administration. Continued attention to these issues is important for immigrant and mixed-status communities, who often face barriers to civic participation. We call on the Assembly and the Governor to act to make these changes the law of our great state of New York."

Chief Executive Officer at the Institute for Responsive Government Action Sam Oliker-Friedland said, "We applaud the Senate's passage of S.8646, guarding election officials from intimidation and harassment, and S.1035, providing election commissioners with standardized training from the State Board of Elections. These are both critical steps toward protecting and supporting election officials in administering fair, secure, and impartial elections. By providing essential resources, strong training, and real protections from intimidation and harassment, these bills help ensure election officials can do their jobs effectively and serve New York voters with confidence."

Counsel in the Voting Rights Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law Patrick Berry said, "We thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senate Elections Chair Gonzalez, and the Senate for their steadfast work to safeguard and strengthen New York's democracy. Today's package of pro-democracy reforms includes critical new protections for election officials and election workers against intimidation, as well as a uniform training curriculum for all election commissioners to help ensure they provide the best possible service to voters. This builds on the transformative progress New York have already made by enacting the strongest public campaign finance system in the nation, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, and new disclosure requirements for deceptive AI-generated election-related content. It's more important than ever that our elected leaders continue to fight for elections in the state that are free, fair, and peaceful."

Executive Director of The Black Institute and member of the NY BIPOC Democracy Table Tuulikki Robertson said, "For Black, Indigenous, and communities of color that have long faced voter suppression, disinvestment, and exclusion from political power, these reforms represent real progress. We applaud the New York State Senate for advancing a comprehensive Democracy Day package that protects voters from deception, expands access to the ballot, strengthens election administration, safeguards voting systems, and curbs foreign-influenced corporate spending. Together, these bills move New York closer to a democracy rooted in equity, accountability, and the lived experiences of the communities most impacted by unjust systems."

Co-Founder and Voting Rights Counsel at Vote Early New York Jarret Berg said, "As America faces ongoing challenges to its democracy from threats at home and abroad, New Yorkers are fortunate to have State Senate leadership focused on protecting and advancing our voting rights. We applaud the Senate Majority for again putting fundamental rights first by prioritizing this critical package of election reforms and look forward to working with lawmakers in both chambers to enact modern voting policies that will continue to improve the fairness and quality of our elections."

Campaign Director at Free Speech for People Alexandra Flores-Quilty said, "The New York State Senate passage of the Democracy Preservation Act brings New York closer to setting a national standard for protecting elections from foreign corporate influence. We applaud the Senate's leadership and urge the Assembly to act swiftly so New York can once again lead the nation in defending democratic self-government."

President of the NAACP New York State Conference L. Joy Williams said, "The NAACP New York State Conference applauds the Senate Majority for continuing to prioritize democracy by advancing this package. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we defend the right to vote and expand the tools available to do so. The State Conference is particularly encouraged by the steps being taken to address voter suppression efforts. Whether by misinformation or direct intimidation, voter suppression remains the biggest threat to our democracy."