What's happening
This bill moves all local elections in New York State, including village and town elections, to November of even-numbered years.
Why it matters
Increases voter turnout and engagement. By consolidating all local, town, and village elections to November of even-numbered years (when major state and federal elections are held), the bill could significantly boost participation in local races, which are often overlooked in standalone spring or off-year elections.
Reduces election costs and administrative complexity. Holding elections simultaneously can lower expenses for municipalities by streamlining polling site operations, ballot printing, staffing, and voter outreach, potentially freeing up local resources for other needs.
Alters political strategy and campaign dynamics. Local candidates will now compete for attention alongside high-profile state and federal races, which could change how campaigns are run, who chooses to run, and how local issues are discussed—potentially giving an advantage to better-funded or more organized candidates and parties.
Standardizes election timing and may reduce voter confusion. Moving all elections to a single, predictable date minimizes the risk of missed or forgotten local elections, making it easier for voters to stay informed about when to vote and for whom.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Move Local Elections to Even Years
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
151
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law and the town law, in relation to elections; and to repeal section 6-200 of the election law relating to village elections
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 6-202 of the election law, as added by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
1. Party nominations of candidates for village offices in any county shall be made at a party caucus or at a primary election, as the rules of the county committee, heretofore or hereafter adopted consistent with the provisions of this chapter shall provide. If the rules of the county committee of any political party provide that party nominations for village offices of that party in any or all villages in the county shall be made at a village primary election, such primary election shall be held [forty-nine days prior to the date of the village election] the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September before every general election in an even-numbered year unless otherwise changed by an act of the legislature. In the event there is no village committee with a chairman, the chairman of the county committee, or such other person or body as the rules of such committee may provide, shall designate an enrolled member of the party who is a qualified voter of the village as the village election chairman. The chairman of the county committee of each party in which nominations in any village are made at a primary election shall file with the board of elections, at least one week before the first day to file designating petitions for such primary elections, a list of the name and address of the chairman of the village committee or the village election chairman in each such village. Such village chairman shall have general party responsibility for the conduct
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05280-01-9
S. 151 2
of the village caucus or primary election. Such nominations shall be made not more than fifty-six, nor less than forty-nine days prior to the date of the village election.
§ 2. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 1 of section 15-104 of the election law, paragraph a as amended by chapter 248 of the laws of 1983 and paragraph b as amended by chapter 565 of the laws of 1998, are amended to read as follows:
a. The general village election shall be held on the [third Tuesday in March except in any village which presently elects, or hereafter adopts a proposition to elect, its officers on a date other than the third Tuesday in March] Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November in an even-numbered year.
[b. In any village in which the general village election, or a special village election for officers pursuant to this chapter, is scheduled to be held on the third Tuesday of March, for any year in which the seventeenth day of March shall fall on such Tuesday, the board of trustees of such village shall provide, by the resolution prescribed by paragraph b of subdivision three of this section, that such election shall be held on the eighteenth day of March. Any provision of a resolution adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not otherwise alter the political calendar for any such election, which shall continue to be computed from the third Tuesday of March. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision five of this section, any provision of a resolution adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall be effective only if such provision is specifically published as provided by this section.]
§ 3. Section 6-200 of the election law is REPEALED.
§ 4. Section 80 of the town law, is amended to read as follows:
§ 80. Biennial town elections. [Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a] A biennial town election for the election of town officers and for the consideration of such questions as may be proposed by the town board or the duly qualified electors, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be held on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November of every [odd-numbered] even-numbered year. All other town elections are special elections. A town election or special town election held pursuant to this chapter, shall be construed as a substitute, for a town meeting or a special town meeting heretofore provided to be held by law, and a reference in any law to a town meeting or special town meeting shall be construed as referring to a town election or special town election.
§ 5. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law or of any other general, special or local law, all elections of any position of a county elected official, town elected official, village elected official or elected official of the city of New York shall occur on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November. All such elections shall occur in an even-numbered year.
§ 6. This act shall take effect on the first general election in an even-numbered year next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
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 and the town law, in relation to elections; and to repeal section 6-200 of the election law relating to village elections
Purpose
Provides that all town and village elections shall be held on election day in November in even-numbered years.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends subdivision 1 of section 6-202 of the election law to provide that the primary election for village offices shall be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September before the gener- al election in even-numbered years.
Section 2. Amends paragraphs a and b of subdivision 1 of section 15-104 of the election law to provide that general village elections shall be held on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.
Section 3. Repeals section 6-200 of the election law relating to village elections.
Section 4. Amends section 80 of the town law to provide that town elections shall be held on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.
Section 5. Provides that, notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, or of any other general, special or local law, all elections of any position of a county, town or village elected official, or any elected official of the city of New York, shall occur on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.
Section 6. Effective date.
Existing law
Current law provides that village elections are held on the third Tues- day in March and that town elections are held on election day in Novem- ber in odd-numbered years.
Justification
New York's current system of holding village elections in March and town elections on election day, but in odd-numbered years, leads to voter confusion and contributes to low voter turnout in local elections. Studies have consistently shown that voter turnout is the highest on the November election day in even-numbered years when elections for state and/or federal offices are held. Holding town and village elections at the same time will make the process less confusing for voters and will lead to greater citizen participation in local elections.
Legislative history
2017-18: S382 - Elections 2015-16: S872 - Elections 2013-14: S4669 - Elections
Fiscal implications
Anticipated savings to local governments from the consolidation of vari- ous elections at different times of the year on election day in even- numbered years.
Effective date
This act shall take effect at the first general election in an even-num- bered year next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.