Andrew Cuomo issues orders allowing New Yorkers to tie the knot and get marriage licenses over Zoom
Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order on April 18, to issue licenses to allow New Yorkers to get married over video chatting platforms like Zoom.
"NEW: I am issuing an Executive Order allowing New Yorkers to obtain a marriage license remotely and allowing clerks to perform ceremonies via video conference," the governor tweeted.
The Governor's secretary, Melissa DeRosa made the official announcement at a press conference and said that clerks will be able to perform ceremonies remotely as well. Meanwhile, Cuomo lightly joked about the increase in divorce rates due to the stay-at-home orders amid the pandemic.
"So that's an avenue people want to go down, it will be available to them," DeRosa said to the reporters at the conference.
"I think the divorce rate is going up. Marriage rate is going down, divorce rate is going up. What are we doing about marriage bureaus? Why didn't someone think about that?", Cuomo quipped.
"We actually have thought about it," DeRosa quickly followed Cuomo's comment. "We are today signing an executive order allowing people to get their marriage licenses remotely and also allowing clerks to perform ceremonies over video. So if that's an avenue people want to go down, it will be available to them."
However, that seemed to humor Cuomo even more. "Video marriage ceremonies. There's now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. No excuse," Cuomo said. "You can do it by zoom. Yes or no?" the governor added.
Most marriage bureaus across New York have been closed amid the coronavirus lockdown and haven't been able to issue licenses to couples in need, in the last few weeks. Similar measures have also been implemented in Cuyahoga County in Ohio and the state of Colorado. The coronavirus pandemic has halted or indefinitely postponed various family-oriented events like weddings, baby showers, graduations, and even funerals.
Couples that have been adamant about going through with their wedding plans have adhered to the social-distancing guidelines and used online social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Zoom to broadcast their special day to their family audiences.
The pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the US, with New York being the epicenter of the outbreak and worst hit among all states. New York has 2,36,732 confirmed cases as of April 19, with 17,671 fatalities.