What's happening
This bill requires candidates accepting nominations from parties other than their own to certify their citizenship and eligibility for office.
Why it matters
Adds a new requirement for candidates nominated by parties other than their own. to formally certify their citizenship, eligibility, and that they meet (or will meet) all legal qualifications for the office, potentially increasing transparency and accountability in cross-party nominations.
Could deter ineligible or unqualified candidates from accepting nominations from multiple parties. by making them legally affirm their eligibility, which could reduce confusion or manipulation in the nomination process.
May help parties and voters by clarifying a candidate’s legal standing upfront. , potentially reducing post-nomination legal disputes or challenges related to eligibility after ballots are set.
Raises the threshold of responsibility for candidates running on multiple party lines. , which could impact fusion voting and other cross-endorsement practices common in New York’s unique electoral system.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Cross-endorsed and independent candidates
Candidates required to file acceptance certificates would also have to affirm New York citizenship, eligibility for election and compliance with constitutional or statutory qualifications within the specified timeframe.
Political parties and independent nominating bodies
Their candidates’ designations or nominations would be void if required acceptance certificates lack the new affirmations.
Boards of elections
The bill would add citizenship and qualification statements to the acceptance certificates they receive from candidates covered by the requirement.
Headline styles
Tighten Candidate Eligibility Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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
3160
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the acceptance of nominations for office or for a party position
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 6-146 of the election law is amended to read as follows:
1. A person designated as a candidate for nomination or for party position, or nominated for an office, otherwise than at a primary election, may, in a certificate signed and acknowledged by him or her, and filed as provided in this article, decline the designation or nomination; provided, however, that, if designated or nominated for a public office other than a judicial office by a party of which he or she is not a duly enrolled member, or if designated or nominated for a public office other than a judicial office by more than one party or independent body or by an independent body alone, such person shall, in a certificate signed and acknowledged by him or her, and filed as provided in this article, accept the designation or nomination as a candidate of each such party or independent body other than that of the party of which he or she is an enrolled member, and state that he or she is a citizen of the state of New York; is eligible to be elected to such office or position; and, if elected will at the time of commencement of the term of such office or position, meet the constitutional or statutory qualifications thereof or, with respect to judicial office, will meet such qualifications within thirty days of the commencement of the term of such office, otherwise such designation or nomination shall be null and void.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05239-01-9
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.