New York Governor Kathy Hochul Monday signed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York into law. The law aims to remove barriers to poll access. State Senator Zellnor Myrie believes the law is “the strongest voter protection law of any state.” Myrie hopes the law sends “a powerful message: every voter counts and every vote should be counted.”

The law implements five measures in order to address voting inequity in New York. The measures address voter dilution, voter suppression and voter intimidation, deception, or obstruction. The bill also expands election-related language assistance beyond what the federal Voting Rights Act requires and boosts preclearance, which requires jurisdictions to “preclear” changes to election laws and policies before implementation. These measures also establish legal protections should violations occur.

In a statement, Hochul declared, “[a]t a time when the very foundation of our democracy is under threat, New York is leading the nation with new laws protecting the fundamental right to vote.”

This month Hochul also signed a bill raising the minimum age for buying or owning semiautomatic rifles to 21 years of age and a bill boosting abortion rights for New Yorkers.