Increases the number of registrants an election district may contain with the approval of the county board of elections

1 Co-sponsor

• William J. Larkin Jr.

BILL NUMBER:S7466

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to increasing the number of registrants an election district may contain with the approval of the county board of elections

Purpose of the bill

This bill would raise the election district registrant enrollment from a maximum of 1,150 registrants to 3,000.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill would amend Election Law § 4-100(3)(a) revises the definition of an "election district" to expand its maximum registrants from eleven hundred fifty to three thousand.

Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.

Justification

Upon enactment this legislation would raise the limit of voters allowed in every election district from 1,150 voters to 3,000. The current election district registrant enrollment limits were prescribed based on the fact that the old lever voter machines were not capable of handling more than 1,000 votes per election; thus a strict limit of 1,150 voters per district was necessary. The new optical scanners will read and hold up to approximately 4,000 ballots/voters per machine. Therefore, this change in the law aims to serve as mandate relief to municipalities by allowing them to consolidate districts and reduce costs in many areas, including: hiring fewer election inspectors; fewer ballots to order; and requiring less time testing ballots.

Prior legislative history

This is a new proposal.

Budget implications and local impact

None.

Effective date

The bill would take effect immediately.