What's happening
This bill allows board of elections employees to receive special ballots at any time before polls close on election day.
Why it matters
Expands flexibility for election workers. By allowing board of elections employees and poll workers to receive their special ballots at any time before polls close, the bill helps accommodate unpredictable schedules or last-minute assignments—making it easier for these workers to vote.
Aims to reduce disenfranchisement among election staff. Previously, there was a limited window (no earlier than two weeks before the election) to obtain a special ballot, which may have led to workers missing their chance to vote if assigned late or facing logistical issues; the new language addresses this gap.
Could improve staffing and election administration. By removing barriers for election workers to vote, the bill might help recruit and retain staff, knowing their right to vote won’t be jeopardized by their service.
Ensures timely ballot handling. The amendment still requires that special ballots are distributed in a way that gives workers enough time to return them before polls close, supporting both voter access and election integrity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Election Workers Get Early Ballots
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to elections
- 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.
Faster Ballots for Election Workers
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Kevin Cahill
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4119
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 3, 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 special ballots for board of elections employees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 11-302 of the election law, as amended by chapter 163 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 11-302. Special ballots for board of election employees. A person who is an employee of the board of elections or who has been appointed to serve as an inspector of elections, poll clerk or election coordinator at a polling place other than the one at which he or she is registered to vote, may deliver to the inspectors of election of the election district in which he or she is registered, or to the board of elections, at any time during the period in which an application for an absentee ballot may be so delivered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, a written statement that he or she will be unable to appear at the polling place for such election district on the day of an election because his or her duties as an employee of such board or as an inspector, poll clerk or election coordinator require him or her to be elsewhere. The board of elections shall provide such voter a special ballot [not earlier than two weeks before the election and not later than] any time prior to the close of the polls on election day, provided however that the distribution of such ballots to such voters shall be timed to afford such voters sufficient time to cast such ballots prior to the close of the polls on election day. Such cast ballots may be delivered to an office of such board of elections or to any board of inspectors not later than the close of the polls on election day. Such ballots shall be retained at the board of elections and cast and canvassed pursuant to the provisions of section 9-209 of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01621-01-7
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 special ballots for board of elections employees
Purpose
To Board of Elections Employees to submit special ballots at any time after such ballots are printed instead of the current law which requires that they be submitted no earlier than two weeks before the election.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the election law to allow board of election employees or a person who has been appointed to serve as an inspector if elections, poll clerk, or election coordinator at a polling place other than the one at which she is registered to vote to submit a special ballot any time after such ballot is printed but not later than the close of polls on election day.
Section 2 establishes an immediate effective date.
Justification
In November of 2012 the special ballots of fifty-three Ulster County Board of Elections employees were nearly disenfranchised when it was discovered that they were submitted prior to the two week window the law requires. Fortunately, it was decided judicially that these ballots would be opened and counted, putting the interests of the voters above that of a hyper-technical law. This law would amend that hyper-technical law to allow special ballots to be submitted any time after such a ballot is printed, and prevent future need for judicial ruling on such issues.
Prior legislative history
2015-2016: A2086 Passed Assembly, Delivered to Senate, Referred to Elections
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.