Permits certain students enrolled in school to serve as election inspectors or poll clerks at elections under the election or education law; repealer

4 Co-sponsors

• Ruben Diaz
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Liz Krueger
• Velmanette Montgomery

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, the labor law, and the education law, in relation to authorizing persons seventeen years of age to serve as election inspectors and poll clerks and to repeal section 3207-a of the education law relating to authorizing the board of education of the city of New York to reduce the length of recitation periods

Purpose or general idea

To provide the authority for enrolled students at least 17 years of age, upon consent from their school district and parents (or legal guardians), to serve as election inspectors and poll clerks during elections.

Summary of specific provisions

Amends subdivision 6 of section 3-400 and adds a new subdivision 7 to the election law to allow a person who is 17 years of age who is properly enrolled in a school district to be eligible to be appointed as an election inspector or poll clerk.

Amends sections 132 and 143 of the labor law to exempt those participating as election inspectors or poll clerks on election day from the labor law which limits 17 year olds from working over 4 hours a day on a school day and exempts participants from needing working papers.

Adds a new section 2036 to the education law providing the authority for school districts to allow 17 year old students to participate as election inspectors and poll clerks at school district elections.

Adds a new section 3207-a to the education law to allow 17 year olds to participate as election inspectors and poll clerks, upon parental consent. Makes clear that those students participating as election inspectors or poll clerks shall be deemed as attending school on election days.

The bill makes a technical change to the education law by repealing section 3207-a of the education law that expired in 1959 and was never extended.

Justification

Recruitment of election inspectors and poll clerks to work our elections is a difficult task. For every statewide election, 4, election inspectors or poll clerks are required per election district polling station: roughly 60,000 people across the state to work the election. In the November 2001 election, severe shortages of personnel to work the election existed in several areas of the State. This legislation would help reduce such widespread shortages while providing an excellent hands-on learning experience of democracy in action for our state's young adults.

Prior legislative history

A.11173 (2002), A.1252 (2003-04), A.3006 (2005-06), A.4059 (2007-2008).

Fiscal implication for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.