What's happening
This bill expands and clarifies who can appoint election watchers and under what circumstances during New York elections.
Why it matters
Expands who can appoint election watchers. , allowing not just party committees or independent bodies, but also political committees supporting or opposing ballot proposals, to appoint official watchers. This could mean greater oversight and more perspectives represented at polling places.
Clarifies procedures for primaries. , specifically stating that both party committees and individual candidates can appoint watchers, which may improve transparency and candidate confidence during intra-party contests.
Broadens appointment authority. , replacing references to only a "chairman" with "chair or other officer" of a committee, making the process more inclusive and adaptable to different organizational structures.
Formalizes watcher credentials. , requiring written certificates from the appropriate appointing authority, which may strengthen the legitimacy of watchers and help election inspectors verify their status more easily.
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Who cares
Primary candidates
The bill would let any candidate on the primary ballot appoint three watchers per election district at a time, replacing the requirement that two or more candidates act together.
Ballot proposal committees
Political committees supporting or opposing a ballot proposal would gain explicit authority to appoint watchers at general, special, town and village elections.
Party committees
The bill would expressly authorize party committees to appoint primary election watchers and allow chairs or other officers to make watcher appointments.
Election inspectors
Inspectors would receive written watcher appointment certificates issued by the appointing authority under the revised rules.
Headline styles
Expand Election Watcher Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.418
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- 3rd reading cal.1242
- Substituted for S3141A
- Referred to elections
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.383
- Reported
- Print number 1525a
Show 2 earlier actions
- Amend and recommit 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.
Expand Election Watchers' Access
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Zellnor Myrie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1525--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BUCHWALD -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to watchers during election
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 8-500 of the election law, as amended by chapter 9 of the laws of 1978, subdivisions 1 and 3 as amended by chapter 373 of the laws of 1978, and subdivision 4 as amended by chapter 254 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8-500. Watchers; provision for. 1. At any general, special, town or village election, any party committee [or], any independent body whose candidates are upon the ballot, [and at any primary election, any two or more candidates and any political committee] and any political committee supporting or opposing a ballot proposal may have for each election district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by the [chairman] chair or other officer of any such party[,] committee [or], independent body [or by the candidates] or political committee.
2. At any primary election, any party committee and any candidate on the ballot may have for each election district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by the chair or other officer of any such party committee or by any candidate.
3. Watchers may be present at the polling place at least fifteen minutes before the unlocking and examination of any voting machine or ballot box at the opening of the polls, until after the signing of the inspectors' returns and proclamation of the result.
[3.] 4. The appointment of watchers for any election shall be by a certificate in writing issued by the [chairman or secretary of the poli-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07189-02-9
A. 1525--A 2
tical party or independent body, or the candidates] appointing authority. Such certificate shall be delivered to an inspector at the election district.
[4.] 5. Each watcher must be a qualified voter of the city or county in which he or she is to serve. No person shall be appointed or act as a watcher who is a candidate for any public office to be voted for by the voters of the election district in the same election in which the watcher is to serve. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as prohibiting any such candidate from visiting a polling place in such district on an election day while the polls are open.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.