What's happening
This bill requires county boards of elections to post canvassing results and candidate lists on their websites and updates related publication requirements.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and public access. By requiring county boards of elections to post canvassing results and candidate lists on their websites, the bill ensures that critical election information is more readily available to the public, not just in print or for those who seek it in person.
Modernizes and standardizes information sharing. The bill shifts some legal publication requirements from newspapers to online postings, reflecting current communication practices and making it easier for residents to access up-to-date election results and candidate information from anywhere.
Streamlines and clarifies publication rules. The amendments reduce duplicative publication requirements (e.g., removing the need to publish in multiple newspapers of different political affiliations) and specify that online posting is now a primary method, potentially saving costs and administrative effort for boards of elections.
Supports election integrity and confidence. By mandating the timely, conspicuous posting of certified results and key election documents online, the bill aims to enhance the integrity and traceability of the election process, helping to build public trust in reported outcomes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Post Election Results Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2789
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 determinations by county canvassing boards and publication of lists of nominations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 9-212 of the election law, as amended by chapter 635 of the laws of 1990, are amended to read as follows:
2. All such determinations shall be in writing and signed by the members of the canvassing board or a majority of them and filed and recorded in the office of the board of elections, the board of elections shall cause a copy of such determinations, and of the statements filed in its office upon which such determinations were based, to be conspicuously posted on its website. The statement of canvass to be posted, however, shall not give the vote by election districts but shall contain only the total vote for a person, or the total vote for and the total vote against a ballot proposal, cast within the county, or within the portion thereof, if any, in which an office is filled or ballot proposal is decided by the voters if the canvass of the vote thereon devolves upon the county board of canvassers. [Except in the city of New York and in the counties of Nassau, Orange and Westchester, the board of elections shall cause a copy of such determinations, and of the statements filed in its office upon which such determinations were based, to be published once in each of the newspapers designated to publish election notices and the official canvass. The statement of canvass to be published, however, shall not give the vote by election districts but shall contain only the total vote for a person, or the total vote for and the total vote against a ballot proposal, cast within the county, or within the portion thereof, if any, in which an office is filled or ballot proposal is decided by the voters if the canvass of the vote
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04257-01-7
S. 2789 2
thereon devolves upon the county board of canvassers.] Such totals shall be expressed in arabic numerals.
3. The board of elections shall prepare and forthwith transmit to each person determined by the canvassing board to have been elected a certified statement, naming the office to which such canvassing board has declared him or her elected.
§ 2. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 4-122 of the election law, as amended by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, are amended to read as follows:
1. The county board of elections shall publish, and conspicuously post on its website, 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.
3. [The] In addition to being conspicuously posted on the board of elections website, the list described in subdivision one of this section shall be published at least once in [not less than two nor more than four newspapers] a newspaper of general circulation in the county. In a county containing a city, [at least one] such publication shall be in a daily newspaper published in a city therein, if there be such a newspaper. In the case of a village election held at a time other than the time of a general election, such publication shall be in a newspaper having general circulation in such village. [So far as is consistent with this section, one such newspaper shall represent each of the major political parties.] Should the board of elections find it impossible to make such publication six days before election it shall make it at the earliest possible day thereafter before the election.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 determinations by county canvassing boards and publication of lists of nominations
Purpose
This bill would provide mandate relief to counties by eliminating the requirement that boards of elections publish election results in the newspaper, require candidate lists to be published in only one newspaper, and remove the requirement that candidate addresses be published as part of such list.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of election law § 9-212 as amended by chapter 635 of the laws of 1990 are amended to eliminate newspaper publication of the determinations by county canvassing boards. Instead, local boards of election would have to conspicuously post such determinations on their website.
Section 2. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of election law § 4-122 as amended by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989 are amended to limit publication of candidate lists to one newspaper of general circulation and digital publication. Current law specifies that such lists shall be published in between two and four newspapers and includes no provision for digital publication. This amendment also removes a candidate's residence from the information to be published as part of such list.
Section 3 of the bill is the effective date. JUSTIFICATION: Current law (EL. § 9-212) requires county canvassing boards to publish election results and the results of local ballots proposals once in the newspaper. Current law (EL. § 4-122) also and requires newspaper publication of candidate lists, including candidates residences, in several newspapers.
By wholly eliminating the newspaper publication requirements of E.L 9-212, replacing them with digital publication, and significantly scaling back the newspaper publication requirements of E.L. § 4-122, this bill alleviates the hardship of these unfunded mandates while recognizing the wide use and accessibility of the internet by boards of elections, citizens, and the media.
Legislative history
S.7075 2016 Referred to Elections. S.3657 2015-16 Referred to Elections S.1009 of 2013-14 Referred to Elections S.4139-A of 2011-12 Referred to Elections
Fiscal implications
The bill will provide savings to the counties.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.