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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by A3601
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.437
- 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.
Eliminates the reference to "inmate" when referring to residents of veterans administration hospitals for purposes of absentee voting
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4329
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to eliminating the reference to "inmate" when referring to residents of veterans health administration hospitals for purposes of absentee voting
Purpose
Modifies the Election law to correct the designation of veterans in absentee voting procedures to read as a "resident or patient of a veteran's health administration hospital", which more aptly describes the situation of these individuals upon requesting and submitting an absentee ballot.
Summary of provisions
Sections 5-215, section 8-400, and section 8-404 of The Election law are amended in order to eliminate all references to a resident of veteran's health administration hospitals as an "inmate" for the purposes of absentee voting to appropriately categorize veterans as either a resident or a patient of a veteran's administration hospital.
Justification
At present, pursuant to New York State Election Law, voters who in good faith expect to be absent on Election Day must request an application to qualify for an absentee ballot. Of the varying reasons permitted, a veteran who is an "inmate or patient of a veteran's health administration hospital" or VA hospital may receive a ballot. At issue here is not the execution of this process, rather the improper and erroneous implication associated with this distinction in the law. Men and women who have fulfilled the strenuous duty of defending this great nation that now take residence in New York's veteran's administration hospitals are by no means inmates. Although "inmate" was originally intended for its institutional usage, updating the language to "resident" will be better suited to current standards of voter registration. Basing the absentee process on residence in this manner certifies that a veteran's vote is respectfully counted without any unwanted connotation. We must protect the dignity of those who have served honorably by ensuring that our most precious democratic institution of voting to choose who governs does not mar the service of our heroes.
Legislative history
2011-12 - A.7769 - Passed Assembly/S.4911- Advanced to Third Reading Cal.
Fiscal implications
None.
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.