What's happening
This bill requires the full text of ballot amendments, propositions, or questions to be included in legislation and prohibits alteration without legislative approval.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and accountability. By requiring the full text of amendments, propositions, or questions to be included in the legislation itself, lawmakers and the public can more easily review and understand exactly what is being proposed before it appears on the ballot.
Prevents last-minute or unauthorized changes. The ban on altering ballot language without explicit legislative approval closes potential loopholes where changes could have been made administratively or behind closed doors after legislative passage, ensuring voter-facing text is consistent with what was debated and passed.
Promotes legislative responsibility. By centralizing control over ballot language with the legislature, the bill ensures that elected representatives—not unelected officials or agencies—are directly accountable for the wording and content of ballot measures, which can affect both interpretation and outcomes.
Could impact legal challenges and public trust. Clear and consistent ballot language, with a direct legislative trail, may reduce the risk of legal disputes over confusing or misleading text and can build greater public trust in the integrity of the referendum and amendment process.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Ballot Question Text Included
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2016
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- 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 language used in a proposed amendment, proposition or question to be submitted to the people for their approval; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 4-108 of the election law, as amended by chapter 136 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
2. The form in which the proposed amendment, proposition or question is to be submitted shall consist of only an abbreviated title indicating generally and briefly, and in a clear and coherent manner using words with common and every-day meanings, the subject matter of the amendment, proposition or question. The text of the amendment, proposition or question to be submitted to the people for their approval pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall be included in the text of the legislation proposing such amendment, proposition or question. The text of such proposed amendment, proposition or question to be submitted to the people for their approval shall not be altered without the approval of the legislature. If more than one such amendment, proposition or question is to be voted upon at such election, each such amendment, proposition or question respectively shall be separately and consecutively numbered.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 4-108 of the election law is REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06990-01-9
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 language used in a proposed amendment, proposition or question to be submitted to the people for their approval; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
Purpose
To ensure that proposed amendments, propositions or questions placed before voters contain language agreed upon by the Legislature and the Executive. Additionally, the agreed text to be placed before voters cannot be altered without the approval of the Legislature.
Summary of provisions
This bill changes the process by which the language used in amendments, propositions or questions is presented to voters. It states that any legislation enacting any of the aforementioned must contain the exact language that is to be used on ballots submitted to voters for their consideration. If any changes to the text are proposed after the legis- lation has been signed into law those changes must be re-approved by the Legislature.
The attorney general would no longer advise in the preparation of the text of amendments, propositions or questions.
Justification
Currently, language used in amendments, propositions or questions submitted before the voting public are subject to influence by the Exec- utive. This was evidenced in 2013 when the text of the constitutional amendment to allow for casino gaming mirrored the comments of the gover- nor and other proponents of such amendment.
This bill would allow for an objective process whereby the language to be used in an amendment, proposition or question submitted before voters will be included in the bill text of the legislation calling for such action. This will limit the amount of influence that the language of the text used in an amendment, proposition or question has when being considered by voters.
Legislative history
2018 - S. 4757 - Passed Senate/A. 8392 - Election Law Committee.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediate.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.