What's happening
This bill allows New York election commissioners more flexibility in determining the number of election inspectors at poll sites.
Why it matters
Statewide staffing floor. Replaces the requirement of four inspectors for each election district with a “sufficient number,” while setting a minimum of four inspectors per poll site statewide.
Small-district exception. Poll sites located in districts with fewer than 150 registered voters could operate with a minimum of two inspectors, rather than the current four-inspector requirement.
Clerk rules preserved. Existing requirements for additional clerks based on voting machines and paper ballots would remain in place. The staffing changes would take effect immediately.
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Who cares
Local boards of elections
They would apply the new inspector staffing standard and poll-site minimums while retaining existing authority to require additional poll clerks.
Election inspectors
Their required staffing levels would shift from a fixed number per election district to a sufficiency standard with poll-site minimums.
Voters in districts with fewer than 150 registered voters
Their poll sites could operate with as few as two election inspectors.
Poll clerks
The bill would preserve the separate clerk staffing requirements and their board-prescribed duties.
Headline styles
Let Commissioners Pick Poll Staff
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
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.
Let Counties Set Poll Staff
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Daphne Jordan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2030
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI, QUART, GALEF, LUPARDO, STECK, D'URSO, RA, MONTESANO, WALSH, LAWRENCE, BLAKE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to allowing election commissioners flexibility to designate how many election inspectors are needed at poll sites
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 3-400 of the election law are amended to read as follows:
1. There shall be for each election district of the state [four] a sufficient number of election inspectors. Each poll site shall have a minimum of four election inspectors; provided, however, that there shall be a minimum of two election inspectors at a poll site located in a district with fewer than one hundred fifty registered voters.
2. At every general election in each election district where two voting machines are used, there shall be two clerks in addition to the [four] inspectors of election, except that in an election district located in a town, where one voting machine is used, the town board may direct the board of elections to appoint not more than two clerks in such district if in the discretion of such board the service of such clerk or clerks is reasonably necessary for the proper conduct of the election. In each election district where paper ballots, in addition to one voting machine, are used at a general election, there shall be two clerks in addition to the [four] inspectors of election. In each election district where paper ballots, in addition to more than one voting machine are used at a general election there shall be four clerks in addition to the [four] inspectors. The duties of such clerks shall be such as shall be prescribed by the board of elections and they shall serve at the general election only. When deemed necessary in any election or primary, the board of election may require additional poll clerks to be designated in any election district.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05226-01-9
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.