What's happening
This bill requires county legislative bodies to automatically approve political party recommendations for commissioners of elections.
Why it matters
Reduces local discretion over election oversight. By requiring county legislative bodies to automatically approve political party recommendations for election commissioners, the bill removes the ability of these bodies to reject or vet nominees, potentially limiting checks on partisan appointments.
Streamlines and expedites the appointment process. The bill eliminates waiting periods and complex fallback procedures that previously applied when a legislative body failed to act, making appointments faster and more predictable for political parties.
Increases political party influence in election administration. By guaranteeing that party recommendations are accepted without review, the bill could concentrate more power in the hands of local party organizations, raising concerns about potential partisanship in the administration of elections.
Aims to prevent local stalemates and vacancies. The automatic approval mechanism is likely designed to avoid deadlocks or vacancies caused by legislative inaction or partisan gridlock, ensuring that commissioner positions are filled promptly.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Party Picks Election Commissioners
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3531
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the appointment of commissioners of elections
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 3-204 of the election law, as amended by chapter 116 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
4. Commissioners of [election] elections shall be appointed by the county legislative body, or in the city of New York, by the city council. Provided, however, that [if a legislative body shall fail to appoint any person recommended by a party for appointment as a commissioner pursuant to this section, within thirty days after the filing of a certificate of recommendation with such legislative body, then the members of such legislative body who are members of the political party which filed such certificate may appoint such person. And further provided, if there are no members of the legislative body who are members of the political party which filed such certificate, the appointment shall take effect upon the expiration of thirty days from the date that the certificate was filed. If none of the persons named in any of the certificates filed by a party are so appointed within sixty days after the filing of any such certificate, then such party may file another certificate within thirty days after the expiration of any such sixty day period recommending a different person for such appointment. If a party fails to file a certificate within the time prescribed by this section, the members of the legislative body who are members of such party may appoint any eligible person to such office] the legislative body shall automatically approve any recommendations for commissioners of elections by a party.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08653-01-7
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.