What's happening
This bill removes the requirement for notaries to administer sworn statements for election petitions, replacing it with an identity inquiry based on Board of Elections records.
Why it matters
Lowers the barrier to petition signing. By removing the need for a sworn statement before a notary, the process of collecting signatures for election petitions becomes quicker and less intimidating for both signers and campaign volunteers, potentially encouraging more participation.
Modernizes petition verification. The new requirement relies on cross-referencing signer identities with Board of Elections records, which shifts the focus from an oath-based system to a data-driven verification, reflecting more contemporary recordkeeping and identification practices.
Reduces legal and logistical hurdles. Sworn statements require notarial acts, which can be costly, time-consuming, and difficult to coordinate; this change could make the petition process more accessible, especially for grassroots and lower-resourced candidates or groups.
Shifts accountability. Instead of signers swearing to the truthfulness of their information under penalty of perjury, the responsibility moves to notaries or commissioners of deeds to reasonably confirm identity based on official records, which may have implications for how challenges to petition signatures are handled.
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
Notaries public and commissioners of deeds
The bill would replace the petition signers’ sworn statements with an identity inquiry using address information provided by the board of elections.
Voters signing petitions
Signers using the affected witnessing procedures would still sign in the officer’s presence but would no longer have to swear that their statements are true.
Boards of elections
The revised petition statements would call for identity inquiries based on information boards provide to notaries public or commissioners of deeds.
Headline styles
Remove Notary Petition Requirement
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
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
374
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to removing the requirement of a sworn statement administered by a notary public for purposes of petitions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 6-132 of the election law, as amended by chapter 106 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
3. In lieu of the signed statement of a witness who is a duly qualified voter of the state, the following statement signed by a notary public or commissioner of deeds shall be accepted:
On the dates above indicated before me personally came each of the voters whose signatures appear on this petition sheet containing ............. (fill in number) signatures, who signed same in my presence [and who, being by me duly sworn, each for himself or herself, said that the foregoing statement made and subscribed by him or her, was true] after inquiry as to whether the person is the same person that is listed at that address on information provided by the board of elections to the notary public or commissioner of deeds. Date:..................
.............................
(Signature and official title
of officer administering oath)
§ 2. Subdivision 2 of section 6-140 of the election law, as amended by chapter 106 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
2. In lieu of the signed statement of a witness who is a duly qualified voter of the state, the following statement signed by a notary public or commissioner of deeds shall be accepted:
On the dates above indicated before me personally came each of the voters whose signatures appear on this petition sheet containing
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03381-01-9
A. 374 2
.......... (fill in number) signatures, who signed same in my presence [and who, being by me duly sworn, each for himself or herself, said that the foregoing statement made and subscribed by him or her, was true] after inquiry as to whether the person is the same person that is listed at that address on information provided by the board of elections to the notary public or commissioner of deeds. Date: ......................
................................
(Signature and official title
of officer administering oath)
§ 3. The closing paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 6-204 of the election law, as separately amended by chapters 106 and 176 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
In lieu of the signed statement of a witness who is a duly qualified voter of the state qualified to sign the petition, the following statement signed by a notary public shall be accepted:
On the dates above indicated before me personally came each of the voters whose signatures appear on this petition sheet containing ............. (fill in number) signatures, who signed same in my presence [and who, being by me duly sworn, each for himself or herself, said that the foregoing statement made and subscribed by him or her, was true] after inquiry as to whether the person is the same person that is listed at that address on information provided by the board of elections to the notary public or commissioner of deeds. Date..................
...............................
(Signature and official title
of officer administering oath)
Page No........
§ 4. Subdivision 2 of section 6-206 of the election law, as amended by chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
2. In lieu of the signed statement of a witness who is a duly qualified voter of the state qualified to sign the petition, the following statement signed by a notary public shall be accepted:
On the dates above indicated before me personally came each of the voters whose signatures appear on this petition sheet containing ............. (fill in number) signatures, who signed same in my presence [and who, being by me duly sworn, each for himself or herself, said that the foregoing statement made and subscribed by him or her, was true] after inquiry as to whether the person is the same person that is listed at that address on information provided by the board of elections to the notary public or commissioner of deeds.
Date:..................
...............................
(Signature and official title
of officer administering oath)
Page No........
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.