What's happening
This bill repeals section 6-120 of New York election law, removing restrictions on the designation and nomination of primary candidates.
Why it matters
By repealing section 6-120, this bill could open up the nomination process, potentially allowing more candidates—including those not traditionally supported by party leadership—to appear on primary ballots.
Political parties would lose current legal authority to set certain exclusive requirements or restrictions for who may be designated or nominated as a candidate, which could shift more control to voters and away from party insiders.
This change might make it easier for independent, outsider, or insurgent candidates to challenge incumbents, possibly increasing political competition and diversity within party primaries.
The repeal could also lead to legal and procedural uncertainty in the short term, as parties and boards of elections adjust to the absence of previously established nomination rules.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Primary Candidate Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1166
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to repeal section 6-120 of the election law, in relation to restrictions on the designation and nomination of primary candidates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6-120 of the election law is REPEALED.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01948-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to repeal section 6-120 of the election law, in relation to restrictions on the designation and nomination of primary candidates
Purpose
To repeal the state's "Wilson-Pakula" law in order to make party primary elections more competitive.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Repeals section 6-120 of the election law, which places restrictions on the designation and nomination of primary candidates.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
This legislation seeks to make primary elections more competitive by repealing the "Wilson-Pakula" law, while continuing to allow cross-party endorsements of candidates. Those seeking to obtain a cross-party endorsement would need to acquire a sufficient number of signatures from enrolled party members in order to appear on the primary ballot. Repealing Wilson-Pakula will limit the influence of powerful political party bosses over the primary election process and make primary elections more fair and competitive.
Legislative history
2015-16: S2197 - Elections
Fiscal implications
None to state.
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.