Allows absentee voting for persons unable to vote due to duties, occupation, business, personal matters or studies

BILL NUMBER:S6534

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to absentee voting qualifications

Purpose

Allows absentee voting for persons unable to vote due to duties, occupation, business, personal matters or studies.

Summary of provisions

Extend absentee voting rights to any individual who for any reason is unable to vote in person; includes the category of "matters" in the list of acceptable reasons for absentee voting; eliminates the requirement that an individual applying for an absentee ballot be required to file a statement regarding the nature and reasons of their absence from the county of his or her residence; provides that no single agent may collect more than fifteen absentee ballots, except upon application and approval of both commissioners.

Justification

By extending absentee voting rights to all individuals who are unable to vote in person on election day, we are enabling more eligible voters to vote in New York State and have that vote counted. This bill helps to ensure that as many eligible voters as possible exercise their right to vote on election day.

There are many instances where an individual voter may not be able to vote, for any number of personal reasons, but may not fall within one of the categories which exists in current law. This amendment would eliminate this problem. The existing application process is also amended, as it would no longer require an individual voter to provide a specific reason as to why they will be unable to vote in person on election day.

This bill helps codify the main focus of HAVA to ensure that as many people as possible are able to exercise their right to vote and do so in an appropriate manner. By eliminating the requirement that an individual provide an acceptable reason for their absence, the bill also eliminates a pitfall as to why an otherwise eligible voter may be deemed ineligible.

Additionally, this bill would limit the number of absentee ballots one agent may collect to fifteen, unless otherwise approved by both commissioners. This change eliminates the unseemly practice whereby one individual is able to collect an unlimited number of absentee ballots and turn them in. The potential for fraud in instances like that is too great to risk for such an important matter as the right to have your vote count.

Legislative history

2006 - S.2776 Referred to Elections 2008 - S.2253 Referred to Elections; Notice of Petition Filed 2009 - S.1835 Referred to Elections 2011 - S.544 Referred to Elections 2013 - S.2252 Referred to Elections

Fiscal implications

None.

Local fiscal implications

Negligible.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided that, effective immediately, any rule and regulations necessary to implement the provision of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed.