What's happening
This bill allows voters' party enrollment changes to take effect more quickly, especially before primary, general, and special elections.
Why it matters
Accelerates voter party enrollment changes. so that requests received before key deadlines (25 days before an election, or 10 days before a special election in person) will now take effect in time for the next primary, general, or special election—this could increase voter participation and flexibility.
Removes the previous “sealed enrollment box” waiting period. , meaning boards of elections must now process and apply enrollment changes more quickly, potentially reducing confusion and ensuring that voters can participate in the party primary of their choice sooner.
Clarifies and standardizes processing timelines. by specifying that changes are effective 25 days after receipt (or postmark), but not sooner than 20 days before an election, with special provisions for in-person submissions before special elections—this reduces ambiguity for both voters and election officials.
May significantly impact close primary races. by allowing voters to switch parties and have their votes counted more promptly, possibly changing the dynamics of party primaries and special elections in New York.
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Who cares
Voters changing party enrollment
The bill would replace the wait until after the general election with new effective-date rules allowing qualifying changes to count for the next primary, general or special election.
County boards of elections
Boards would need to process enrollment changes under new postmark, receipt and effective-date rules rather than hold them in a sealed enrollment box until after the general election.
Voters seeking enrollment changes before special elections
The bill would allow changes delivered in person to the county board of elections at least 10 days before a special election to take effect for that election.
Headline styles
Speed Up Party Enrollment Changes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
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.
Update Voter Enrollment Deadlines
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1423
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, THIELE, ARROYO, SEAWRIGHT, HUNTER, EPSTEIN, RIVERA, BLAKE, BARRON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to change of enrollment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 5-304 of the election law, as amended by chapter 90 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
3. A change of enrollment received by the board of elections, showing a dated cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service, or contained in an envelope showing such a dated cancellation mark which is dated not later than the twenty-fifth day before the [general election shall be deposited in a sealed enrollment box, which shall not be opened until the first Tuesday following such general election. Such change of enrollment shall be then removed and entered as provided in this article] next ensuing primary, general, or special election, and received no later than the twentieth day before such election, or delivered in person to such county board of elections not later than the tenth day before a special election, shall have such change of enrollment effective for such election. Enrollment changes shall be entered as provided in this article and will be deemed to take effect on the twenty-fifth day after such change of enrollment is received by the board of elections or if the change of enrollment, or the envelope containing it, bears a dated cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service, such change shall be entered and will be deemed to take effect on the twenty-fifth day after the date of such mark, whichever is earlier; except that no change will take effect sooner than the twentieth day after the receipt of such change of enrollment by the board of elections except with regard to special elections as provided in this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01808-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.