What's happening
This bill directs the New York State Board of Elections to study and pilot voting by mail, telephone, and internet.
Why it matters
Explores Modern Voting Methods. By requiring a study and pilot projects on voting by mail, telephone, and internet, the bill could pave the way for more accessible and convenient voting options in New York, especially for people with disabilities, those living abroad, or individuals with limited ability to reach polling places.
Evaluates Security and Integrity. The legislation specifically tasks the Board of Elections with examining how votes can be securely verified through these new methods, addressing key concerns about election integrity and the potential for fraud or technical failures.
Potential Impact on Voter Turnout. By studying the effects these alternative voting methods might have on participation rates, the bill seeks to understand whether such options could help boost voter turnout in both primary and general elections, which is often a challenge in many regions.
Lays Foundation for Policy Change. The requirement for detailed recommendations to the governor and legislature within two years sets the stage for substantive election reforms, guided by empirical data and real-world pilot results, rather than speculation or partisan assumptions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Mail and Online Voting
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4085
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, BAILEY, HOYLMAN, PERKINS, SERRANO, SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT providing for the state board of elections to undertake a study on the feasibility of permitting voting by mail, telephone and/or the internet and to establish pilot projects relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state board of elections shall undertake a study on the feasibility of permitting voting by mail, telephone and/or the internet. Such study shall include but not be limited to evaluation of the ability of verifying votes by mail, telephone and/or the internet and the impact on the number of the electorate voting in primary and general elections. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, at any primary or general election during the undertaking of such study, the state board of elections may provide a pilot program permitting voting by mail, telephone and/or the internet. The state board of elections shall submit such study including recommendations to the governor and state legislature within twenty-four months of the effective date of this act.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09729-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act providing for the state board of elections to undertake a study on the feasibility of permitting voting by mail, telephone and/or the internet and to establish pilot projects relating thereto
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would require that the state board of elections do a study of the feasibility of voting by mail, telephone and/or over the internet. It would also empower it to establish pilot programs to evaluate the feasibility of any of these methods of voting.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 mandates that the state board of elections undertake a study of the feasibility of voting by mail, telephone and/or over the inter-net, that such a study may include pilot programs of each method, and that it report to the legislature and the governor the results of the study along with recommendations.
Justification
One of the primary goals of any representative form of government should be to have every eligible voter participate. While attaining such a goal may be a practical impossibility, the legislature must find ways to increase voter turnout. That is especially true given the ominous decline in turnout Over the past four decades in New York State. Since the 1956 election, the percentage of registered voters who cast ballots has steadily fallen from over 93% to less than 64%.
In a recent nationwide study conducted for the League of Women Voters, a majority of non-voters supported proposals which make voting more convenient. Keeping the polls open longer and providing an opportunity to vote by mail were both considered very helpful in getting them to cast votes. This bill would require the board of elections to examine the possibility of using mail, telephone and internet voting. In almost all the tests of mail voting, it has significantly increased voter participation. Recent elections in Oregon have been conducted by mail with startlingly positive results and little or no fraud. According to election officials in various parts of the country, including New York State, the technology exists to use touch-tone phones to securely case your vote. Given the constant decline in voter participation in the electoral process, the state should examine these methods of increasing turnout. The results of this study, when presented to the legislature, will enable it to decide if this is a course that New York should follow.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Legislative history
2009-2010: S.3590/A.6716 2011-2012: S.424/A.5204 2013-14: S.3252/A.3188 2015-2016: S2739
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.