Prohibits requiring the carrying of a party's designating petitions as a prerequisite to being placed on the list to be a poll inspector or clerk

BILL NUMBER:S5123

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to election inspectors

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of the bill is to prohibit the required carrying of a party's designating petitions as a prerequisite, to becoming a poll worker

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 3 of section 3-404 of the election law by prohibiting that the carrying of a party's designating petitions as a prerequisite to placing a person's name on the list of poll workers.

Section 2 states that this act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

Poll workers and poll clerks are the front lines in protecting our election process and voter rights. It is of the utmost importance that poll workers and poll clerks are therefore chosen based on merit and qualifications, rather than potential political favors.

Unfortunately, it has been a long-standing practice in some areas to require potential poll workers to carry the designating petitions for party nominations. This practice can give the impression that poll workers are subject to partisan pressure. The public perception that the election process is fair and unbiased must be treated as paramount

This bill attempts to address this inherently suspect practice by prohibiting using petition-carrying as a prerequisite to designation as a poll worker .

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.