What's happening
This bill requires New York State to fully reimburse counties and New York City for costs of administering September primary elections.
Why it matters
Shifts financial responsibility for September primary elections from local governments to the state. , potentially easing budget pressures on counties and New York City and allowing local funds to be directed to other pressing needs.
Creates a formal application and approval process for reimbursement. , requiring localities to submit detailed plans and itemized costs to the state board of elections, which could increase transparency and accountability in election spending.
Covers a wide range of election-related expenses. , including personnel salaries, ballot production, and operational costs, ensuring that virtually all local expenditures related to the September primaries are eligible for full reimbursement.
Empowers the state board of elections to set standards and oversee compliance. , which may lead to more consistent election administration practices across counties and New York City, and potentially improve the quality and efficiency of primary elections.
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
State Pays Local Election Costs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to elections
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Pay Counties for Primary Costs
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3700
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 26, 2017
Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, PERKINS -- 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 the reimbursement to counties and the city of New York of the costs associated with administering primary elections
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6-160 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. The state of New York shall reimburse counties and the city of New York for costs associated with administering primary elections held in September of each even numbered election year.
(a) Reimbursement of such expenses shall be made upon application of such counties or the city of New York for state aid under this section, by filing with the state board of elections a plan, including specific costs, detailing expenses associated with conducting such primary.
(b) Included in such reimbursable costs shall be clerical costs, maintenance and operation costs, as well as salaries of local board of elections personnel, poll inspectors, ballot and sample ballot production, distribution and such other costs accrued in fulfilling the requirements of articles eight and nine of this chapter, and such other information as the state board of elections shall require.
(c) The state board of elections shall approve such reimbursement if it conforms to standards relating to the administration of elections.
(d) State aid shall be granted to the city of New York and the respective counties outside the city of New York only to the extent of reimbursing one hundred per centum of the approved expenditures incurred by the county or city in maintaining and administering the September primary election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00190-01-7
S. 3700 2
(e) The state board of elections shall promulgate rules and regulations in furtherance of these provisions in accordance with section 3-102 of this chapter.
§ 2. 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 the reimbursement to counties and the city of New York of the costs associated with administering primary elections
Purpose
The bill will require the state to reimburse counties and the city of New York for the costs of conducting the September primary in even numbered election years.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends Section 6-160 of the election law by adding a new subdivision three, requiring the state to reimburse the counties and city of New York for the costs associated with administering the September primaries in even numbered election years. It further sets forth the reimbursable expenses, and the mechanisms through which counties may apply to the state board of elections for reimbursement. It sets the reimbursement rate at 100% of the approved expenditures, and authorizes the state board of elections to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to fulfill the law.
Justification
In 2014, New York held primaries for federal elections and state elections on two separate days. It is anticipated that in all even years going forward, New York will continue to hold separate federal and state primary dates. Having separate primary dates has negative impacts on the electorate, local election offices and local budgets. First, and foremost, splitting of the primary dates in this manner serves to reduce voter participation. Second, it is a burden on local election offices to run two sets of elections.
The estimated cost of the second primary, with all expenses included, would be approximately $50,000,000 to the counties of New York and New York City.
This is an unfunded and unnecessary mandate that not only affects our counties and New York City, but also impedes the ability of nearly 50,000 New Yorkers, including more than 10,000 active military men and women, to have their votes properly cast and counted.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.4457/A.4836 Referred to Elections, reported to Finance.
Fiscal implications
Estimated to be approximately $50,000,000.
Local fiscal implications
Estimated to save counties of New York and New York City approximately $50,000,000.
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.