What's happening
This bill allows primary and secondary schools to be used as polling places only when school is not in session with minors present.
Why it matters
Addresses student safety concerns. by ensuring that minors are not present when schools are used as polling locations, reducing potential risks from increased public access on election days.
Could disrupt traditional polling place availability. , possibly requiring election officials to seek additional locations if school is in session, impacting voter convenience and access.
May require changes in school scheduling or closure on election days. if schools wish to remain available as polling sites, influencing academic calendars and potentially causing logistical challenges for families.
Places new administrative responsibilities on boards of elections. , as they must now anticipate and identify alternate polling sites in advance when schools are unavailable, which could increase planning complexity and costs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Schools Restricted as Polling Places
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
108
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to primary and secondary schools being used as polling places
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 4-104 of the election law, as amended by chapter 180 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
1. Every board of elections shall, in consultation with each city, town and village, designate the polling places in each election district in which the meetings for the registration of voters, and for any election may be held. The board of trustees of each village in which general and special village elections conducted by the board of elections are held at a time other than the time of a general election shall submit such a list of polling places for such village elections to the board of elections. A polling place may be located in a building owned by a religious organization or used by it as a place of worship. If such a building is designated as a polling place, it shall not be required to be open for voter registration on any Saturday if this is contrary to the religious beliefs of the religious organization. In such a situation, the board of elections shall designate an alternate location to be used for voter registration. A polling place may be located in a building utilized for primary or secondary school instruction. If such a building is designated as a polling place, it shall not be required to be open for voter registration or as a polling place if the school is in session and minors are scheduled to be present on such day. In such a situation, the board of elections shall designate an alternate location to be used for voter registration and as a polling place. Such polling places must be designated by May first, of each
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03411-01-9
S. 108 2
year, and shall be effective for one year thereafter. Such a list required to be submitted by a village board of trustees must be submitted at least four months before each general village election and shall be effective until four months before the subsequent general village election. No place in which a business licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption is conducted on any day of local registration or of voting shall be so designated. If, within the discretion of the board of elections a particular polling place so designated is subsequently found to be unsuitable or unsafe or should circumstances arise that make a designated polling place unsuitable or unsafe, then the board of elections is empowered to select an alternative meeting place. In the city of New York, the board of elections shall designate such polling places and alternate registration places if the polling place cannot be used for voter registration on Saturdays.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to primary and secondary schools being used as polling places
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide that no primary or secondary school shall be required to be open for voter registration or used as a polling place when school is in session or minors are scheduled to be present.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one - amends subdivision 1 of section 4-104 of the election law, as amended by chapter 512 of the laws of 2010 to provide that no primary or secondary school shall be required to be open for voter registration or used as a polling place when in school is in session or minors are scheduled to be present.
Section two - sets forth the effective date
Justification
In recent years, school safety has become an issue across the country, with schools in New York instituting a number of safety and security measures to protect students. Many schools are locked to outsiders while school is in session so no one can enter without signing in and giving ID. However, on many election days, schools are one of the primary locations for voting. This bill would better protect minors in primary and secondary schools by banning polling sites from being located within schools while school is in session. It should be noted, that if New York State can agree on a date to consolidate the state and federal prima- ries, whether it is at the end of June or in August, schools are not in session at those times. Further, the presidential primary only comes once every four years. The only disruption not using primary and second- ary schools as polling sites when they are in session would occur on general election days held in November, if the school does not decide to close or use a staff attendance or a professional development day. It should be noted that the city of New York already makes general election day a non-student attendance day.
Prior legislative history
S.4449- 2017/2018
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.