The state Democratic Party has sent pre-filled applications for absentee ballots to 4.2 million party members across the state — a move that has angered Republicans.

Registered Democrats began receiving the ballots recently, and the news was reported earlier this weekend by the New York Post and WWNY, a television station in Watertown.

Ballots were sent with the voter’s name and addressed filled in, along with a pre-checked box saying the voter is requesting an absentee ballot because of a fear of contracting COVID-19. The words, “New York State voter Assistance Program” appear at the top of one sheet of paper that accompanies the application, according to the New York Post, while an accompanying letter states the state Democratic Committee paid for the effort.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation earlier this year allowing voting by absentee ballot due to the COVID-19 pandemic for those who fear becoming ill if they go to the polls to vote. The bills (S.7565-B/A.8432-A) were passed by largely partisan votes in the Senate and Assembly. The 2022 legislation extended legislation approved in July 2020 that expired Dec. 31, 2021.

“No one should have to choose between exercising their right to vote and protecting their health and safety,” Hochul said in January. “This legislation will ensure the pandemic does not create inaccessibility for voters during upcoming elections and help protect New Yorkers’ access to the ballot.”

Republicans in the Assembly argued at the time that allowing COVID-19 as a reason for absentee ballots should have been granted on a short-term basis and revisited later in the year, with Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Clarence, noting the Buffalo Bills’ January home playoff game as an example of people’s willingness to begin putting pandemic policies behind them.

“Things are changing on a regular basis. I mean, the last time we debated this bill was the summer of 2020,” Norris said. “Not last year. And since then we’ve had a vaccine, people are vaccinated. People are now in stadiums — I want to get this on the record because, you know, the Buffalo Bills had over 60,000 people in the stadium just this past week. And I’m very happy about it, by the way.”

The state Democrats’ move comes after last November’s statewide rejection of a ballot referendum that would have eliminated a requirement for voters to give an excuse if they want to vote. The excuse for voting absentee is required in the state Constitution, Republicans said on the Assembly floor. Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, mentioned it as well when asked about the Democrats’ sending of absentee ballots this month.

“One of the constitutional amendments on the ballot last year was for no excuse absentee ballots,” Goodell said. “And voters turned that down. The Democratic Party put up 4.2 million absentee ballots, filled it out with your name and address and they premarked that you were applying for an absentee ballot because of a fear of getting COVID — not even askin the voter. The voter, all they had to do was sign it and put it in the pre-addressed envelop that came with it to get an absentee ballot. … I think that would probably be legitimate if you are seriously immunocompromised, but now we don’t even have a COVID emergency. The governor let her powers lapse, so if you’re afraid of getting a cold you can get an absentee ballot.”

Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-New York City and spnsor of A.7565, was asked by Assemblyman Ed Ra, R-Franklin Square, if there was a situation this year when a registered New York voter wouldn’t be able to get an absentee ballot if they have fear of contracting an illness — COVID-19 or otherwise.

“If they’re not fearful of contracting the illness then they shouldn’t request it. Not everybody’s a liar. If somebody’s not fearful, they’re not going to request it. What do you think, people just want to, you know, stay at home because they’re lazy? I don’t think so. I think most people who vote like to vote in person. I know I do,” Dinowitz said.