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Who cares
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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by A7469
- Amended on third reading 5055a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.780
- Referred to local government
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.
Relates to the types of voting machines used in certain elections
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michelle Schimel
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5055A
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law, in relation to the types of voting machines used in certain elections; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
The bill is intended to address issues that fire districts and special improvement districts face due to the replacement of lever voting machines in 2010 with new voting machines that meet the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and the state Election Reform and Modernization Act of 2005.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends the town law to provide that voting machines may be used in special improvement district elections. Section 2 of this bill amends the town law to provide that voting machines may be used in fire districts. Section 1 of the bill contains the effective date.
Justification
Chapter 421 of 56B town law now requires fire districts and special improvement districts to conduct their elections with paper ballots or ballot scanners. Fire districts and special improvement districts around the state have expressed an overwhelming preference to continue using lever voting machines in their elections. Further, certain counties are refusing to lease the ballot scanners to the fire districts and special improvement districts, leaving these fire districts and special improvement districts with paper ballots as the only option for Election Day. In fire districts and special improvement districts that have thousands of registered voters, this presents a significant logistical problem. This bill would give fire districts and special improvement districts, the option to use lever machines through December 31, 2012. This authority is similar to that which was granted to school boards. Furthermore, like school elections, fire districts and special improvement districts elections (unlike state elections) are not held at the same time as federal elections which fall under the HAVA mandate.
The sunset provisions in the bill will allow a reevaluation of the situation once the new voting machines have been used in several election cycles. It is important to note that this bill would not impose any obligation on the boards of elections to maintain care, custody or control of lever voting machines or to provide fire districts and special improvement districts with such voting machines for their elections. The bill would temporarily preserve the status quo with respect to the options that V have to run their elections, but the board of elections has no obligation to assist fire districts and special
improvement districts that chooses to use lever voting machines after September 2010.
This amendment is analogue to chapter 359 of the laws of 2020, which provided schools with the option of using lever machines in their elections.
Legislative history
New legislation.
Fiscal implications
None for the boards of elections. Fire districts and special improvement districts that want to use lever voting machines will have to obtain such machines at their own expense.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided however, that authority to use lever voting machines will expire on December 31, 2012.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.