What's happening
This bill requires all New York State primary election polls to open at 6 a.m. statewide instead of noon in some areas.
Why it matters
Expanding early morning access to polls statewide. could make it easier for people with early work shifts, long commutes, or family responsibilities to vote before their day begins, potentially increasing overall voter turnout.
Standardizing poll opening times across all counties removes confusion. about when polls open, especially for voters who move between counties or receive inconsistent information, thus reducing barriers to voting.
The change may particularly impact rural or upstate communities. where polls previously opened at noon, offering more equitable access compared to urban counties that already had 6 a.m. openings.
Employers and schools may be affected. as more people may choose to vote before work or class, possibly reducing requests for time off during the day and smoothing out voter flow throughout the day.
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Who cares
Primary voters outside New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess and Erie
They would gain six hours of morning voting, with primary polls opening at 6 a.m. instead of noon and still closing at 9 p.m.
County boards of elections in the affected counties
They would need to arrange for primary polling places to operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Primary candidates and campaign organizations in the affected counties
They would have a longer voting window to account for in their Election Day voter outreach.
Headline styles
Expand Primary Voting Hours
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1618
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 16, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT, MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the hours of operation for polling places for voting in the primary election
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 8-100 of the election law, as amended by chapter 367 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
2. Polls shall be open for voting during the following hours: a primary election from [twelve o'clock noon] six o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock in the evening[, except in the city of New York and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess and Erie, and in such city or county from six o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock in the evening]; the general election from six o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock in the evening; a special election called by the governor pursuant to the public officers law, and, except as otherwise provided by law, every other election, from six o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock in the evening.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00672-01-9
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.