Permits boards of elections to engage election inspectors to split shifts, their compensation to be prorated accordingly

3 Co-sponsors

• John A. DeFrancisco
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer

BILL NUMBER:S756B

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to permitting election inspectors to split shifts

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to permit boards of elections to allow election inspectors to split shifts, and prorate their compensation accordingly.

Summary of provisions

Subdivision 7 of Section 3-400 of the Election Law is amended to permit all boards of elections to authorize election inspectors to work split shifts and prorate their compensation accordingly.

Justification

Currently, election inspectors are not permitted to split the work day into shifts. During most elections, polls are open for an average of sixteen hours. Election workers are not only required to work during polling hours, but there is additional time required to prep and close down polling sites. Their job duties are essential to protecting the integrity and validity of our democratic process. It is difficult for many inspectors, especially our senior volunteers, to commit to the long and taxing hours of an election day. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit new inspectors, and with the implementation of new computerized voting machines, recruitment and retention levels are expected to drop further. Allowing election workers to divide their shifts will increase the pool of candidates available to contribute their time to the most critical element of democracy.

Legislative history

2009-10: S.1097/A.1126 Referred to Elections 2007-08: S.366/A.11517 Referred to Rules 2006: S.7557 Referred to Elections

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

One hundred eightieth day after it shall have become law.