This post was written by Jordan Marks, Campaign Manager of New Yorkers Against Corruption as part of our PowHer the Vote 2017 campaign.

For hundreds of years, New Yorkers have fought to build one of the most progressive and effective constitutions in the country. This has been hard, slow work that was done over decades of civil rights, worker’s rights, women’s rights and social justice movements.

In the chaos of 2017’s political climate, the only thing protecting the people from dangerous politics is our institutions. The New York State Constitution contains some of the strongest progressive guarantees in the nation, including powerful voter I.D. protections, safeguards for collective bargaining and labor rights, some of the most powerful environmental regulations in American history protecting the Adirondacks and Catskills, and an obligation for the state to provide care, aid, and support for the needy.

There still is, and always will be, work to be done and improvements to be made to our constitution and to our government. However, countless organizations across the state will tell you that we already have an effective process in place for amending our constitution. It’s been done over 200 times, including half a dozen times in the last five years.

Proponents of a Constitutional Convention have said that a convention is a once-in-a -generation chance for the people of New York to make change – but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the extreme special interest groups. These groups will spend enormous amounts of money to influence a Constitutional Convention process. Political insiders and their inner circles will dominate a convention, and as delegates, will act with their wealthy funder’s best interests in mind – not the people of New York. At the last convention, nearly 80% of delegates were part of the Albany establishment.

We want to know if you will vote “Yes” or “No” for a New York State Constitutional Convention. Vote in our poll here!

A major flaw with a Constitutional Convention process is that there are no rules. Delegates get to decide how long it will last, what issues are decided, and who to hire as their staff. Delegates will receive an additional $80,000 salary on top of their current salaries – and that’s not even taking into account what their staffs will receive. As time has shown, we have no reason to trust these unknown delegates to act in our best interest and protect what matters most to everyday New Yorkers.

Corruption and ethics are a problem – especially in New York. However, a Constitutional Convention will only open the door wider for corrupt politicians to gain even more control and abuse their power as delegates. There’s simply too much at risk and too little gain in giving unknown politicians this kind of control.

The risks and unknowns behind a convention are why groups like Planned Parenthood, the NYCLU, the New York Conservative Party, and over 150 others have joined the coalition New Yorkers Against Corruption – likely one of the largest bipartisan coalitions in New York’s history. I’m asking you to join millions of other New Yorkers to keep corrupt insiders from getting the Constitutional Convention they want by Voting NO on Proposition 1 on Election Day. We have the power to protect our hard-fought rights and make our voices heard on November 7th – use it by voting No.