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S6296Senate2011-2012 SessionSame asA9178

Extends permanent certain provisions of law relating to the use of certain voting machines

Sponsor Jack M. MartinsSD-7+5 co-sponsorsAffects Education
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
Pending
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Jack M. Martins

Senator · Senate District 7

Chair, Local Government

History

  1. Signed chap.482
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to senate
  4. Passed assembly
  5. Ordered to third reading rules cal.516
  6. Substituted for A9178A
  7. Referred to election law
  8. Returned to assembly
  9. Repassed senate
  10. Amended on third reading (t) 6296a
  11. Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
  12. Returned to senate
Show 8 earlier actions
  1. Recalled from assembly
  2. Referred to education
  3. Delivered to assembly
  4. Passed senateVote 57–2
  5. Advanced to third reading
  6. 2nd report cal.
  7. 1st report cal.192
  8. Referred to education

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.

A9178Assembly

Extends permanent certain provisions of law relating to the use of certain voting machines

Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Michelle Schimel

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

BILL NUMBER:S6296A

Title of bill

An act to amend chapter 359 of the laws of 2010 amending the education law relating to use of lever voting machines; to amend chapter 3 of the laws of 2011 amending the election law relating to the number and use of voting machines in village elections; and to amend chapter 170 of the laws of 2011 amending the town law relating to the types of voting machines used in certain elections, in relation to extending the provisions of such chapters

Purpose

To allow for the use of lever voting machines for school districts, villages and special districts in their respective local elections for an additional two years

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends the sunset date of Chapter 359 of the laws of 2010, allowing school districts the ability for continued use of lever voting machines in their local elections until December 31, 2014.

Section 2 amends the sunset date of Chapter 3 of the laws of 2011, allowing villages the ability for continued use of lever voting machines in their local elections until December 31, 2014.

Section 3 amends the sunset date of Chapter 170 of the laws of 2011, allowing fire districts and special improvement districts the ability for continued use of lever voting machines in their local elections until December 31, 2014.

Section 4 repeals inconsistent language of Chapter 170 of the laws of 2011.

Section 5 sets the enacting date.

Justification

There has been an overwhelming preference expressed on behalf of school districts, villages and special districts to continue to use lever-style voting machines in local elections. The available alternatives to the use of these machines is prohibitive in both cost and practicality. Paper ballots are difficult and time consuming to hand count and optical scan machines are not readily accessible and include the added expenses of programming and printing of ballots.

Chapter 359 of the laws of 2010 and Chapters 3 and 170 of the laws of 2011 offered a solution to authorize the use of lever-style voting machines as a cost-effective means to continue operating local elections at reasonable rates. This legislation does not impose any obligation on the boards of elections to maintain care, custody or control of lever voting machines or to provide entities with such voting machines for their elections. This bill will allow for the continuing authorization

to use lever voting machines for local elections if such machines are available until December 31, 2014.

This legislation would provide significant relief to local school districts, villages and special districts from the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) mandate that was intended to apply only to federal elections that have higher voter turnout and less annual costs to administer elections using optical scan voting machines.

Legislative history

The provisions of this bill were previously chaptered in Chapter 359 of the laws of 2010, Chapter 3 of the laws of 2011 and Chapter 170 of the laws of 2011.

Fiscal implications

None to the State. Significant cost savings to local school districts, villages and special districts.

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.