What's happening
This bill changes the voter registration deadline for special town elections from 23 to 10 days before the election.
Why it matters
Expanding voter access. By moving the registration deadline closer to the election (from 23 to 10 days), more people—including those who become interested late or move recently—will have the opportunity to participate in special town elections.
Potential administrative challenges. The shorter window may create logistical pressures for town clerks and boards of registration to process new registrations and update voter lists in time for the election, possibly increasing the risk of errors or delays.
Impact on election outcomes. Special town elections often have low turnout and can be decided by small margins; enabling more people to register closer to the date could significantly change who participates and potentially affect results.
Uniformity with other election rules. This change brings the special town election registration deadline more in line with those for other types of elections in New York, potentially reducing confusion for voters about when they need to register.
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
Voter Registration Deadline Changed
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Change Voter Registration Deadline
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1649
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to registration to vote
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 84 of the town law, as amended by chapter 281 of the laws of 1998, is amended and a new subdivision 7 is added to read as follows:
5. In order to assist boards of registration in the preparation of their registers, the town clerk, prior to the first meeting of such boards of registration, shall obtain from the board of elections of the county in which such town is located, the list of names and addresses of all voters registered with such board of elections on or before the [twenty-third] tenth day before such special election. The town clerk shall deliver the names and addresses of qualified voters to the appropriate board or boards of registration on or before the first meeting of such board or boards. At the first and subsequent meetings of the board of registration for each voting place designated by the town board for such special town election, such board of registration shall place on the register described in subdivision four hereof the names of all qualified voters and all other qualified voters who personally appear, and those military voters and such other voters who are absent by reason of confining illness or physical disability or whose duties, occupation or business required them to be outside of the state of New York, having the qualifications of voters prescribed in this section and who have made application for absentee ballots as certified to them by the town clerk.
7. In the event a town board does not elect to provide personal registration for a special town election, no person shall be entitled to vote unless they are registered to vote with the board of elections on the tenth day before such election.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01965-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law, in relation to registration to vote
Purpose
This bill will clarify that only persons registered to vote with the board of elections are eligible to vote in special town elections except if the town elects to provide personal registration.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 84 of the town law as it relates to clarifying that in the event a town does not provide personal registration, only persons who are registered to vote with the board of elections are eligible to vote in special town elections.
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
Currently, the only requirement for voting in special town elections is that you are a town resident. If the special election was held at the time of the general election in November then only residents who are registered to vote with the county board of elections are eligible to participate. There is no uniform method in proving residency for these special elections; forcing poll workers to utilize affidavit ballots if the person is not registered with the board of elections. This antiquated process creates confusion and delays at polling locations. This bill would require persons voting in special town elections to be registered with the county board of elections.
Legislative history
2015-16: S3291A/A4148A - local government/elections law
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.