Citing complaints, NY prosecutor wants voting rules changed

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Unprecedented complaints about New York's presidential primary show the need for big changes to state voting rules, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Tuesday before announcing proposals to authorize automatic voter registration and join most other states in allowing early voting.

The state's outdated and overly burdensome rules prevented thousands of New Yorkers from casting a ballot, Schneiderman said, including two of Republican President-elect Donald Trump's children who missed the party affiliation deadline, preventing them from voting for their father.

To reduce voter confusion and fatigue, Schneiderman is also calling for the consolidation of primaries instead of the separate primaries now held for congressional, legislative and presidential races.