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S2786Senate2017-2018 SessionSame asA5588

Stop Publishing Candidate Addresses

Official title

“Removes the requirement of publishing a candidate's residence prior to an election”

Sponsor Fredrick J. Akshar IISD-52+1 co-sponsorAffects Public Safety & Consumer Affairs
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
3/10
Low
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

This bill removes the requirement to publish candidates’ home addresses on election lists, listing only their names instead.

Why it matters

  1. Protects candidates’ privacy and personal security. By removing the requirement to publish home addresses, the bill reduces risks like harassment, stalking, or targeted crimes against candidates and their families.

  2. May lower barriers to running for office. Some potential candidates might have been deterred from running due to concerns about their home address being made public; this change could encourage broader participation in elections.

  3. Balances transparency with safety. While the public will still know who is running, omitting addresses ensures transparency about candidates without exposing unnecessary personal information.

  4. Reflects modern privacy expectations. As public awareness of privacy rights grows, especially in the digital age, this update aligns election procedures with contemporary norms for safeguarding personal data.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Stop Publishing Candidate Addresses

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Fredrick J. Akshar II

Senator · Senate District 52

Chair, Elections

History

  1. Signed chap.310
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to senate
  4. Passed assembly
  5. Ordered to third reading cal.345
  6. Substituted for A5588
  7. Referred to election law
  8. Delivered to assembly
  9. Passed senateVote 55–6
  10. Advanced to third reading
  11. 2nd report cal.
  12. 1st report cal.316
Show 1 earlier action
  1. Referred to elections

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.

A5588Assembly

Stop Publishing Candidate Addresses

Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Michael Cusick

Impact 3 · Low0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

2786

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

January 17, 2017

Introduced by Sen. AKSHAR -- 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 publication of candidates to be voted upon at an election

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 4-122 of the election law, as amended by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:

1. The county board of elections shall publish, at least six days before an election, a list containing the name [and residence] of every candidate for public office to be voted for within its jurisdiction at 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.

LBD04276-01-7

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 publication of candidates to be voted upon at an election

Purpose

This bill removes the need for public office candidates to provide their residence in county newspapers before an election.

Summary of provisions

Amends S 4-122(1) of the Election Law by removing the requirement that the residence address of the candidate be published in the legal notice along with the name of the candidate prior to an election.

Justification

The law currently requires the county boards of elections to publish the name and residence address of every candidate for public office at least once in no less than two newspapers in the county prior to an election. Typically, such notice contains information sufficient to identify each office which will appear on the election ballot and the candidates seeking such offices. Inclusion of the residence address is superfluous as the actual ballot itself neither contains such information nor identifies a candidate by residence address. Other provisions of the Election Law detail procedures to be followed by boards of elections to avoid confusion between candidates with identical or similar names.

Legislative history

2015-16: S.7509 - Referred to Elections / A.5236 - Passed 2013-14: S.2207 - Died in Election Law 2009-10: 5.3236 - Passed Senate/ A.1941b - 3rd Reading Calendar 2007-08: S.835 - Died in Rules/A.8537 - 3rd Reading Calendar. 2005-06: S.3706 - 3rd Reading Calendar

Fiscal implications

A significant savings would accrue to the counties as a result of a reduction in the size of the legal notice required to be published.

Effective date

Immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.