What's happening
This bill temporarily changes the required number of signatures for certain election petitions outside New York City, Erie, and Nassau counties.
Why it matters
Expands Ballot Access. By lowering the signature threshold for designating petitions in most of New York State (except NYC, Erie, and Nassau), this bill makes it easier for candidates to qualify for the ballot, potentially increasing electoral competition and giving voters more choices.
Temporary Response to Unique Circumstances. The changes are set to expire at the end of 2019, suggesting they are meant to address a specific, possibly urgent situation—such as logistical challenges or public health concerns—that made collecting signatures at previous levels more difficult during that year.
Maintains Existing Safeguards. The bill continues to exclude positions like member of ward, town, city, or county committee from the reduced signature requirement, preserving stricter standards for these local party roles while relaxing rules for other offices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change Petition Signature Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.22
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 53–8
- 3rd reading cal.255
- Substituted for S4350
- Referred to elections
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Amended on third reading (t) 5979a
- Advanced to third reading cal.91
- Reported
Show 1 earlier action
- 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.
Change Petition Signature Rules
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Neil D. Breslin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5979--A Cal. No. 91
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JONES, JACOBSON, WOERNER, D'URSO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to signatures for designating petitions for certain political subdivisions; 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 5 to read as follows:
5. Notwithstanding subdivision two of this section, for designating petitions for political subdivisions outside the city of New York and the counties of Erie and Nassau, except for the position of member of ward, town, city or county committee, such petitions must be signed by not less than three and three-quarters per centum, as determined by the preceding enrollment, of the then enrolled voters of the party residing within the political unit in which the office or position is to be voted for (excluding voters in inactive status). The reductions provided by subdivision four of this section as added by chapter seventeen of the laws of two thousand nineteen shall also apply.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2019 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.
LBD10192-04-9
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.