What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- 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.
Relates to prohibiting election commissioners from being chairs of political parties
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5266
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to prohib- iting election commissioners from being chairs of political parties
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to prohibit election commissioners from being chairs of political parties.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 3-200 of the of the Election Law is amended as follows: 4. No person shall be appointed as election commis- sioner or continue to hold office who is not a registered voter in the county and not an enrolled member of the party recommending his or her appointment, or who is the chair of a political organization in such county or who holds any other public office, except that of commissioner of deeds, notary public, village officer, city or town justice, member of a community board within the city of New York or trustee or officer of a school district outside of a city.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Political organization chairs and election commissioners wield power and influence over political candidates and elected officials since they are indispensable to them in every stage of the electoral process. The extent and depth of the interrelationships amongst all are substantial, having implications for the integrity, transparency and accountability of our election system.
The state election system is set up in which the county boards of elections administer the balloting and voting process, an intricate and complicated one. They are responsible for the minutia which can cost a candidate a party line on the ballot or a close election.
County boards are relatively free to operate with minimal interference from other governmental entities. County boards of elections are accountable to the: county political parties to whom they report (who nominate the commissioners); county legislature who ratifies the commis- sioners, sets commissioner salaries and establishes the board of elections budget; and the state board of elections in matters where the state board has jurisdiction.
Many election commissioners occupy simultaneous positions as chairs of political parties and organizations. In having both positions, then, they are instrumental in the recruitment of candidates, putting those candidates on the ballot and certifying election results. These circum- stances can give rise to conflicts of interest, or the appearance of them, exacerbating the public distrust of government and elections.
This legislation would ensure that such conflicts of interest would not arise, safeguarding the foundation of our democracy, our electoral system.
Prior legislative history
This is new legislation.
Fiscal implications
There are no fiscal implications associated with this legislation.
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.