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History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2348 REVISED 02/17/11
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to watchers
Purpose
The bill authorizes attorneys to be poll watchers anywhere in New York if they are state residents and licensed to practice law in the state.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends Election Law section 8-500(4) to allow attorneys who are state residents and licensed to practice law in the state to require be watchers anywhere in the State.
Section 2: Provides for the Act to take effect immediately.
Existing law
Under current law, a poll watcher must be registered to vote in the county in which he is to serve.
Justification
Attorneys licensed to practice law in New York are not restricted in their practices to any locality or court. They may practice before any court in the state, as well as before the boards of elections everywhere in the state. They are also trained as observers and to accurately report their observations. There should be no restriction on their ability to be in a polling place on election day, where their skills can be invaluable in both detecting improper conduct, such as voter intimidation and suppression, and electioneering, and in obtaining a quick resolution of such unlawful conduct by reporting it to the appropriate authorities, including election day judges. For example, in 2006 lawyers serving as poll watchers enabled Senator Andrea Steward-Cousins to win election by acting to stop disruptions and voter suppression and intimidation actions in the polls in Yonkers.
Legislative history
2009-2010: S.2866 - Passed Senate 2007-2008: S.2523 - Referred to Elections 2005-2006: S.2743 - Referred to Elections 2003-2004: S.1359 - Referred to Elections 2001-2002: S.266 - Referred to Elections 1999-2000: S.272 - Referred to Elections 1997-1998: S.1035 - Referred to Elections 1995-1996: S.109 - Referred to Elections
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.