Relates to the information which must be included on applications for absentee ballots for school district elections

1 Co-sponsor

• Carl L. Marcellino

BILL NUMBER:S847

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to applications for absentee ballots for school district elections

Purpose

To conform the education law provisions for absentee ballot applications for school district elections to absentee ballot application provisions in the Election Law.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. Amends paragraphs b, c, d, e, f and g of subdivision 2 of section 2018-a of the education law and adds a new paragraph h to provide that a qualified voter may vote absentee in a school district election if, during all the hours of voting on the day of an election, he/she will be:

*Absent from the county of his/her residence; or

*Unable to appear at the polling place because of illness or physical disability, or duties related to the primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled, or because he/she will be or is a patient in a hospital; or

*An inmate or patient of a veteran's administration hospital; or

*Absent from his or her voting residence because he/she is detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial, or confined in jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other than a felony, provided that he/she is qualified to vote in the election district of his/her residence.

This section also provides that each person who is entitled to vote as an absentee voter and who wishes to receive an absentee ballot shall make written application to the school district clerk in a form prescribed by the State Board of Elections, and prescribes the required information to be contained in an application for an absentee ballot. Lastly, this section provides timelines for when absentee ballot applications must be received by the district clerk, when the district clerk must provide the eligible voter with an absentee ballot, and when such ballots must be returned by the voter.

Section 2. Effective date.

Justification

The Election Law was amended in 2010 simplifying the absentee ballot application for registered voters. In order to avoid voter confusion, increase voter participation and provide uniformity across all types of elections in the state, the Education Law needs to be amended so that absentee ballot application procedures for school district elections are the same.

Legislative history

2013-14: S3552/A5081 - Education/Passed Assembly

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.