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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A3563
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.807
- Referred to elections
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes withdrawal from a primary election run-off
Signed by Governor · Sponsor N. Nick Perry
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7980
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to withdrawal from a run-off election after a primary
General idea of bill
Provides a process for withdrawal from a primary election run-off by a qualifying candidate within three days after the initial primary.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 6-162 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2 which provides that, in any jurisdiction authorizing a primary run-off election, where one of the candidates eligible to participate in a run-off election officially withdraws from such election by submitting a certificate of withdrawal to the local board within three days of the primary election, no such run-off election shall take place.
Justification
Under the current law, for the offices of NYC Mayor, Comptroller and Public Advocate, if no candidate receives 40% or more of the votes in the primary, the law requires a run-off primary election be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. The provisions of the current law, with language that reads "...the city shall conduct a run-off primary election..." provide no mechanism or procedure for withdrawal by one of the candidates even if such candidate should choose to concede to the other. This major flaw in the current law could force a primary election to be held at the cost of millions of dollars to taxpayers with only a single real contestant. This would have been the case in the NYC 2005 primary election had the ultimate winner failed to reach the threshold 40% of votes after recanvassing.
This bill will correct this flaw and provide a convenient process and mechanism for legal withdrawal after voluntary concession by one of the candidates who qualifies for a run-off in NYC or any other jurisdiction that may enact a run-off provision.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Unknown.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after becoming a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.