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A2693Assembly2019-2020 SessionSame asS2699

Raise Party Petition Signatures

Official title

“Relates to signatures for certain party positions”

Sponsor Jeffrey DinowitzAD-81+2 co-sponsorsAffects Public Safety & Consumer Affairs
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
3/10
Low
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

This bill requires petitions for certain party positions to have signatures from at least 3% of enrolled party voters in the district.

Why it matters

  1. Raises the barrier for party committee candidates. By requiring signatures from at least 3% of a party’s enrolled voters in the district, the bill makes it harder for individuals to qualify as candidates for internal party positions, potentially limiting access for grassroots or less-established candidates.

  2. May reduce overcrowding on party ballots. With a higher signature requirement, there could be fewer candidates on the ballot for party committee positions, which might streamline internal party elections but also reduce voter choice.

  3. Impacts party organization and local influence. Stronger signature requirements could consolidate power within established party factions, as only those with greater organizational support may be able to meet the new threshold, influencing how local party politics are conducted.

  4. Short-term trial with immediate effect. The bill would take effect immediately but only apply through the end of 2020, meaning its impact would be examined or reconsidered after a single election cycle, possibly as a test of the new threshold’s effects.

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Who cares

  • Candidates for ward, town, city and county party committees

    The bill would require their petitions to carry signatures from at least 3% of enrolled party voters in the relevant election district, excluding inactive voters.

  • Enrolled party voters

    Active enrolled voters in the relevant election district would form the base used to calculate the signature requirement for these party positions.

  • Party committees and petition organizers

    They would need to plan petition drives around the bill’s signature requirement, which would take effect immediately and expire December 31, 2020.

Headline styles

Raise Party Petition Signatures

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Jeffrey Dinowitz

Assembly Member · Assembly District 81

Chair, Codes

History

  1. Signed chap.18
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to assembly
  4. Passed senateVote 57–3
  5. 3rd reading cal.101
  6. Substituted for S2699
  7. Referred to elections
  8. Delivered to senate
  9. Passed assembly
  10. Ordered to third reading rules cal.26
  11. Rules report cal.26
  12. Reported
Show 2 earlier actions
  1. Reported referred to rules
  2. 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.

S2699Senate

Change Signature Rules for Parties

Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jamaal Bailey

Impact 3 · Low0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

2693

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 25, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law

AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to signatures for certain party positions; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section 6-136 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:

4. Notwithstanding subdivision two of this section, for any party position of member of the ward, town, city or county committee, such petitions must be signed by not less than three per centum of the then enrolled voters of the party residing within the election district for which such position is to be voted (excluding voters in inactive status).

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2020 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD08923-02-9

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.