What's happening
This bill allows New York boards of elections to create alternative, bipartisan poll site staffing plans to improve election efficiency.
Why it matters
Empowers local boards of elections. to create staffing plans tailored to their specific needs, potentially improving voter experience and resource allocation at poll sites.
Maintains bipartisan oversight. by requiring all alternative staffing plans to include at least four inspectors per poll site, equally split between major parties, reducing risks of partisan influence or fraud.
Allows for consolidation of election districts and poll site roles. under certain conditions, which may help address staffing shortages, reduce costs, or streamline operations—so long as vote tabulation by district remains intact.
Adds a layer of state review. by requiring that any alternative staffing plan be filed with the state board of elections, ensuring oversight and consistency with state regulations.
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Who cares
Local boards of elections
The bill would let them design alternative poll site staffing plans that consolidate election district and poll site staffing functions, with plans filed with the state board of elections.
Poll inspectors and other election staff
Alternative plans would require at least four inspectors at each poll site, equally divided among the major parties, and bipartisan staffing throughout.
Major political parties
The bill would preserve equal representation among poll inspectors and require all staffing under alternative plans to be bipartisan.
State Board of Elections
The board would receive alternative staffing plans, which must comply with the specified state regulation and preserve vote tabulation by election district unless consolidation is otherwise permitted.
Headline styles
Allow Flexible Poll Staffing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.891
- Referred to elections
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1088
- 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.
Let Counties Change Poll Staffing
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6434
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 18, 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 alternative provisions for poll site staffing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 3-500 to read as follows:
§ 3-500. Alternative poll site staffing plan. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of title four of this article, a board of elections may design an alternative poll site staffing plan to more efficiently conduct an election in accordance with this section. Such alternative poll site staffing plan must be filed with the state board of elections.
2. An alternative staffing plan shall provide for at least four inspectors, equally divided among the major parties, to be assigned to each poll site, and all staffing must be likewise bipartisan. An alternative staffing plan may consolidate election district and poll site staffing functions to efficiently conduct an election pursuant to this chapter, provided the tabulation of votes by election district shall not be impaired unless consolidation of election districts for an election is otherwise permitted by this chapter, and such staffing plan complies with 9 NYCRR 6210.19(c).
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11061-01-7
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 alternative provisions for poll site staffing
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure the ability to adequately staff and resource polling sites based upon on the individual needs of poll locations.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill adds a new subdivision 3-500 to the election law authorizing alternative poll site staffing/ Boards of elections will be provided the flexibility needed to adequately staff a poll site. Alternative staffing plans must be filed with the State Board of Elections, maintain bipartisan election administration ensure voter tabulation by election district, and ensure any alternative staffing arrangement complies with the obligation of the local board to ensure voters are able to vote in a timely manner.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
While there have been amendments to the election law, the election district structure and staffing pattern prescribed therein still largely date to a time when elections were conducted on lever voting machines assigned to specific election districts. Poll site organization and voter flow through the poll site is now very different. This legislation allows boards of elections to determine poll site staffing based on the actual demands of the poll site and the needs of the voters as opposed to specific statutory requirements that may not meet the needs of some poll sites.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
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.