What's happening
This bill allows unaffiliated voters in New York to participate in one primary election of their choice.
Why it matters
Expands voter participation. By allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in a single party primary of their choice, this bill could significantly increase turnout and engagement, especially among voters who do not wish to affiliate with a party but still want a say in candidate selection.
Influences primary outcomes. With a potentially large new bloc of voters entering primaries, the results could shift, possibly favoring more moderate or broadly appealing candidates rather than those who cater solely to party bases.
Promotes political inclusivity. The measure addresses criticisms that closed primaries exclude a large segment of the electorate, making the nomination process more representative of the general voting population.
Requires administrative changes. The bill mandates the state board of elections to create new rules and procedures, which could mean changes to ballots, poll books, and training for poll workers to ensure proper handling of unaffiliated voters at primaries.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Independents Vote Primaries
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
1270
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to directing the state board of elections to implement any necessary procedures allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in a primary
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 8-302 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4-a to read as follows:
4-a. At a primary election, a voter, whose registration poll record is in the ledger as an unaffiliated registered voter, shall be granted the opportunity to vote in a single primary election of such voter's choice.
§ 2. The state board of elections shall implement any rules and regulations necessary to permit an unaffiliated, registered voter the opportunity to vote in a single primary election.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01042-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to directing the state board of elections to implement any necessary procedures allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in a primary
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of the bill is to provide all voters the opportunity to vote in a single primary election of the voter's choice.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends section 8-302 of the election law by adding a new subdivision 4-a, which provides that at a primary election, a voter whose registration poll record reflects that the voter is an unaffiliated registered voter, shall be granted the opportunity to vote in a single primary election of the voter's choice.
Section 2 provides that the state board of elections shall implement any rules and regulations necessary to permit an unaffiliated registered voter the opportunity to vote in a single, primary election.
Section 3 provides that this act shall take effect immediately
Justification
By restricting unaffiliated voters to general elections, voters who choose not to identify with any party lose the chance to participate in any primary election. The consequences of this are such that unaffiliated voters do not have an opportunity to have their voices heard when multiple candidates are vying for a party nomination. In districts where one party affiliation is much more significant than any other, the primary election can, in effect, determine the general election's outcome This bill aims to provide the opportunity for unaffiliated voters to participate appreciably in the electoral process, by allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in a single primary election of the voter's choice.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.5121
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
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.