New York Mayor Bill de Blasio Bill de BlasioNew York to honor Ginsburg with statue in Brooklyn The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill New York again pushes back in-person classes MORE (D) said on Sunday that Americans would benefit from reformed national voting laws.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We have a democracy problem,” de Blasio told host John Dickerson on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“Our elections are governed by state law, and for a long time, I’ve believed we need to make a fundamental series of reforms,” he said.

“Let’s face it, a lot of the people in the political class have tried to discourage voter involvement, and a lot of incumbents prefer a very small electorate,” he added.

De Blasio said he disagrees with Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) that states are the best arbiter for implementing their own voting rules.

Christie, a possible 2016 candidate, sparred with Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton over New Jersey’s voting regulations on Thursday.

“Look, I think what Gov. Christie is saying distracts from the core point of the dialogue we have to have,” de Blasio said on Sunday.

“Secretary Clinton put forward a notion we need a national strategy to energize voting again, to get people involved,” he said. “Obviously, to address the many efforts made by Republicans to repress voter involvement.”

“And I think Gov. Christie should speak to the proposal rather than just attacking her personally,” de Blasio added.

The New York City mayor called for earlier poll access and simpler voting registration nationwide.

He added that his own state had work of its own on the issue.

“I don’t think New York City and New York state are doing well enough either,” de Blasio said.

“And I think what Hillary Clinton is saying is it’s time to do away with that status quo and actually get the entire American people back into our democratic process,” he added.