What's happening
This bill requires New York to clearly notify voters that it uses a closed primary system, meaning only enrolled party members can vote in primaries.
Why it matters
Improves transparency and reduces confusion. by making it explicitly clear to voters—especially new or unaffiliated ones—that they must be enrolled in a political party to participate in that party’s primary, which could increase informed participation and reduce frustration at the polls.
Targets voter education at the point of registration. , ensuring the information is presented in bold, prominent text so that voters are less likely to overlook this important detail about eligibility.
Addresses a common source of disenfranchisement. for independent or unaffiliated voters, who often do not realize they cannot vote in primaries until it is too late to change party enrollment, potentially leading to higher engagement in the enrollment process.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Warn Voters About Primaries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- 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.
Warn Voters About Closed Primaries
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Robert C. Carroll
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7014
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 3, 2018
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- 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 notifying voters that New York practices a closed primary system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 5 of section 5-210 of the election law, as amended by chapter 179 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
(f) Notice [that political] in bold and prominent type, stating: "The state of New York practices a closed party primary system. Political party enrollment is optional, but [that,] in order to vote in a primary election of a political party, a voter must enroll in that political party, unless state party rules allow [otherwise] otherwise".
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09561-06-7
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 noti- fying voters that New York practices a closed primary system
Purpose or general idea of bill
To better notify voters at the time of their registration that New York State practices a closed Party Primary system.
Summary of specific provisions
Paragraph f of subdivision 5 of section 5-21 of the election law is amended to notify voters in bold font on their registration form that New York practices a closed Party Primary system and detail the conse- quences of that. Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
New York State has a closed Primary system, therefore, if a voter is not enrolled in a particular party then they are not able to participate in that Primary Election. Roughly 25% of voters in New York State are registered to vote as either Blanks or in the Independence Party. This bill would require that on every voter registration form that it be explained in bold font to the voter the consequences of not being enrolled in a Party in New York State. More explicitly notifying each voter at the time of their registration will help to better educate the voter and potentially impact the Primary enfranchisement of almost three million voters in New York State.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
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.