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A2908Assembly2017-2018 Session

Make Ballot Questions Clear

Official title

“Relates to the form of proposed constitutional amendments, propositions or questions”

Sponsor Patricia FahyAD-109+8 co-sponsorsAffects Public Safety & Consumer Affairs
Status
In Assembly Committee
Election Law
Impact
3/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Election Law

What's happening

This bill requires that proposed constitutional amendments, propositions, or questions be written in a clear, coherent, and unbiased manner.

Why it matters

  1. Aims to prevent confusing or misleading ballot language. by explicitly requiring that proposed amendments and questions be written in a “clear, coherent, and un-biased manner.” This helps ensure voters can make informed choices without manipulation or misunderstanding.

  2. Mandates use of plain, everyday language. for ballot measures, reducing legal jargon or technical terms that can exclude or confuse non-expert voters, thereby promoting broader democratic participation.

  3. Could increase public trust in the election process. by establishing legal standards for fairness in how ballot measures are presented, potentially reducing disputes or legal challenges over biased or unclear wording.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Make Ballot Questions Clear

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Patricia Fahy

Assembly Member · Assembly District 109

History

  1. Referred to election law
  2. Referred to election law

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

2908

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 23, 2017

Introduced by M. of A. FAHY, STECK, O'DONNELL, LALOR, GALEF, SKARTADOS, JAFFEE, GOODELL, BUCHWALD -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, BRAUNSTEIN, LOPEZ, SCHIMMINGER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law

AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the form of proposed constitutional amendments, propositions or questions

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 4-108 of the election law, as amended by chapter 136 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:

2. The form in which the proposed amendment, proposition or question is to be submitted shall consist of only an abbreviated title indicating generally and briefly, and in a clear [and], coherent and un-biased manner using words with common and every-day meanings, the subject matter of the amendment, proposition or question. If more than one such amendment, proposition or question is to be voted upon at such election, each such amendment, proposition or question respectively shall be separately and consecutively numbered.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD02661-01-7

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.