What's happening
This bill allows any New York voter aged 62 or older to request and receive an absentee ballot for all future elections.
Why it matters
Expands voting access for seniors. By allowing anyone aged 62 or older to automatically receive absentee ballots for all future elections, the bill makes it easier for older adults—who may face mobility or health challenges—to participate consistently in voting.
Reduces administrative hurdles. Seniors would no longer need to submit a new application for every election, streamlining the process and reducing paperwork for both voters and election officials.
Signals a shift in absentee ballot policy. The bill broadens the definition of who qualifies for permanent absentee status, previously limited to those with illness or disability, potentially setting a precedent for further expansion of absentee voting rights.
Contingent on state constitutional change. The bill's implementation depends on the passage of a separate constitutional amendment removing the requirement to state a specific reason for absentee voting, highlighting ongoing debates about voting access and election integrity in New York.
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
Let Seniors Vote Absentee
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
7622
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 5, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to authorizing any voter at least sixty-two years of age to request an absentee ballot
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 8-400 of the election law, as amended by chapter 63 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
4. A voter who claims permanent illness [or], physical disability, or any voter at least sixty-two years of age may make application for an absentee ballot and the right to receive an absentee ballot for each election thereafter as provided herein without further application, by filing with the board of elections an application which shall contain a statement to be executed by the voter. Upon filing of such application the board of elections shall cause the registration records of the voter to be marked "Permanently Disabled" or "Senior" and thereafter shall send an absentee ballot for each succeeding primary, special or general election to such voter at his or her last known address by first class mail with a request to the postal authorities not to forward such ballot but to return it in five days in the event that it cannot be delivered to the addressee. The mailing of such ballot for each election shall continue until such voter's registration is cancelled.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date as a concurrent resolution entitled "CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 2 of the constitution, in relation to authorizing ballot by mail by removing cause for absentee ballot voting", as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.840 and A.7363, take effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11310-01-7
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.