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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to election law
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 58–2
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.154
- Referred to elections
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to election law
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 54–3
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.370
- Referred to elections
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.
Makes permanent certain provisions of law relating to the use of certain voting machines; repealer
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Michelle Schimel
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3705
Title of bill
An act 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, chapter 170 of the laws of 2011 amending the town law relating to the types of voting machines used in certain elections and chapter 359 of the laws of 2010 amending the education law relating to use of lever voting machines, in relation to making the provisions of such chapters permanent; and to repeal sections 3 and 6 of chapter 170 of the laws of 2011 amending the town law relating to the types of voting machines used in certain elections relating thereto
PURPOSE:; To allow for the use of lever voting machines for school districts, villages and special districts in their respective local elections permanently.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 repeals 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 permanently.
Section 2 repeals the sunset date of Chapter 7 of chapter 170 of the laws of 2011, allowing towns the ability for continued use of level voting machines in local elections permanently.
Section 3 repeals sections 3 and 6 of Chapter 170 of the laws of 2011, amending the town law relating to the types of voting machines used in certain elections,
Section 4 amends section 8 of chapter 359 of the laws of 2010 amending the education law, allowing school districts the ability for continued use of level machines in local elections permanently.
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 for local elections if such machines are available.
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 chap- tered in Chapter 359 of the laws of 2010, Chapter 3 of the laws of 2011 and Chapter 170 of the laws of 2011. This bill (S.6296) was passed by the Senate in 2012.
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.