What's happening
This bill requires New York to clearly notify voters that it uses a closed primary system, meaning only enrolled party members can vote in party primaries.
Why it matters
Increases transparency for voters. By requiring a bold, prominent notice about New York’s closed primary rules, the bill aims to ensure that voters understand party enrollment is necessary to participate in primary elections, reducing confusion and potential disenfranchisement.
May impact voter participation and engagement. Clear notification could motivate more voters to enroll in a party if they wish to have a say in primary elections, potentially altering the makeup of party rolls and increasing engagement in the political process.
Addresses recurring voter frustration. Many voters are unaware of the closed primary system until they are turned away at the polls; this change could prevent negative experiences and complaints, especially among independent or unaffiliated voters.
Highlights the distinction between general and primary elections. The notice clarifies that while party enrollment is optional for general elections, it is required for primary participation—helping voters make informed choices about their registration status.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Warn Voters About Closed Primaries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 44
10 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-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
3504
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CARROLL, BENEDETTO, COLTON, MOSLEY, D'URSO, L. ROSENTHAL, BLAKE, DINOWITZ, RICHARDSON, ABINANTI, SIMON -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to notifying voters that New York practices a closed primary system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 5 of section 5-210 of the election law, as amended by chapter 179 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
(f) Notice [that political] in bold and prominent type, stating: "The state of New York practices a closed party primary system. Political party enrollment is optional, but [that,] in order to vote in a primary election of a political party, a voter must enroll in that political party, unless state party rules allow [otherwise] otherwise".
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02018-01-9
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.