What's happening
This bill allows board of elections employees to receive and cast special ballots any time before polls close on election day.
Why it matters
Improves voting access for election workers. By allowing board of elections employees to receive and cast special ballots at any time before polls close, the bill addresses logistical challenges these employees face due to their election day duties, making it easier for them to vote.
Removes rigid time constraints. The amendment eliminates the previous two-week window for distributing special ballots, providing increased flexibility for both employees and election officials and potentially reducing administrative hurdles.
Supports election workforce participation. By ensuring that those who help run elections can also vote without undue difficulty, the bill may encourage more people to serve as poll workers or election inspectors, bolstering election administration.
Promotes timely and secure voting. The bill requires that special ballots be distributed in time for employees to cast them before polls close, helping to maintain the integrity and timely processing of votes cast by election workers.
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Who cares
Board of elections employees
Employees whose duties prevent them from voting at their assigned polling place could receive special ballots earlier than two weeks before the election.
Election inspectors, poll clerks and election coordinators
Those assigned to polling places other than where they are registered would have to receive special ballots with sufficient time to cast them before polls close on election day.
Boards of elections
Boards would have to time special-ballot distribution to give eligible election workers sufficient time to vote, without the current restriction against providing ballots more than two weeks before the election.
Headline styles
Faster Ballots for Election Workers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.257
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- 3rd reading cal.713
- Substituted for S5199
- Referred to elections
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.12
- Reported
- 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.
Let Election Workers Vote Early
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jen Metzger
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
202
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL, ABINANTI, DILAN, TAYLOR -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BUCHWALD, COOK, FAHY, GALEF, JAFFEE, MOSLEY, RIVERA, L. ROSENTHAL, STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to special ballots for board of elections employees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 11-302 of the election law, as amended by chapter 163 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 11-302. Special ballots for board of election employees. A person who is an employee of the board of elections or who has been appointed to serve as an inspector of elections, poll clerk or election coordinator at a polling place other than the one at which he or she is registered to vote, may deliver to the inspectors of election of the election district in which he or she is registered, or to the board of elections, at any time during the period in which an application for an absentee ballot may be so delivered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, a written statement that he or she will be unable to appear at the polling place for such election district on the day of an election because his or her duties as an employee of such board or as an inspector, poll clerk or election coordinator require him or her to be elsewhere. The board of elections shall provide such voter a special ballot [not earlier than two weeks before the election and not later than] any time prior to the close of the polls on election day, provided however that the distribution of such ballots to such voters shall be timed to afford such voters sufficient time to cast such ballots prior to the close of the polls on election day. Such cast ballots may be delivered to an office of such board of elections or to any board of inspectors not later than the close of the polls on election day. Such ballots shall be retained at the board of elections and cast and canvassed pursuant to the provisions of section 9-209 of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01938-01-9
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.