Will Waldron

ALBANY – In the midst of a global pandemic, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is altering the requirements for a candidate to qualify for New York's primary election.

Cuomo will sign an executive order Saturday slashing the petitioning threshold to 30 percent of what is required by statute; the number varies depending on the seat. This election cycle, that means congressional candidates must now collect 375 signatures instead of 1,250; state Senate candidates, 300 instead of 1,000; and Assembly candidates, 150 instead of 500.