What's happening
This bill allows election commissioners to decide the number of inspectors at poll sites, with minimums based on district size.
Why it matters
Gives local election commissioners more flexibility. to decide the number of election inspectors at each poll site, which may help with staffing efficiency and adapting to local needs.
Sets minimum staffing requirements based on district size. , ensuring smaller districts (under 150 voters) are not overburdened, while maintaining a base level of oversight at all sites.
Could impact voter experience and election integrity. , since the number of inspectors can affect wait times, ballot processing, and the ability to address issues as they arise.
May help reduce costs in low-turnout districts. by allowing fewer inspectors where appropriate, while still mandating adequate staffing in busier areas.
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Who cares
Election commissioners and boards of elections
The bill would replace the fixed requirement of four inspectors per election district with a sufficient-number standard, subject to poll-site minimums.
Election inspectors
Staffing would be subject to a minimum of four inspectors per poll site, or two at a site in a district with fewer than 150 registered voters.
Voters in districts with fewer than 150 registered voters
Their poll sites could operate with two election inspectors rather than four.
Headline styles
Let Counties Set Poll Staff
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
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.
Let Commissioners Pick Poll Staff
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2452
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. JORDAN -- 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 allowing election commissioners flexibility to designate how many election inspectors are needed at poll sites
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 3-400 of the election law are amended to read as follows:
1. There shall be for each election district of the state [four] a sufficient number of election inspectors. Each poll site shall have a minimum of four election inspectors; provided, however, that there shall be a minimum of two election inspectors at a poll site located in a district with fewer than one hundred fifty registered voters.
2. At every general election in each election district where two voting machines are used, there shall be two clerks in addition to the [four] inspectors of election, except that in an election district located in a town, where one voting machine is used, the town board may direct the board of elections to appoint not more than two clerks in such district if in the discretion of such board the service of such clerk or clerks is reasonably necessary for the proper conduct of the election. In each election district where paper ballots, in addition to one voting machine, are used at a general election, there shall be two clerks in addition to the [four] inspectors of election. In each election district where paper ballots, in addition to more than one voting machine are used at a general election there shall be four clerks in addition to the [four] inspectors. The duties of such clerks shall be such as shall be prescribed by the board of elections and they shall serve at the general election only. When deemed necessary in any election or primary, the board of election may require additional poll clerks to be designated in any election district.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05226-01-9
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 allowing election commissioners flexibility to designate how many election inspectors are needed at poll sites
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 3-400 of the election law to change the requirement of election inspectors per election district from four to "a sufficient number", provided that each poll site shall have a minimum of four election inspectors. This minimum is reduced to two for poll sites in a district with less than 150 registered voters.
Section 1 also subsequently removes references to "four inspectors" in the election law.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Existing law
Current law provides that each election district have exactly four election inspectors regardless of the makeup or population of an election district.
Justification
As local governments look to rein in costs in the era of the property tax cap, the State can assist by easing unnecessary statutory require- ments placed on localities. One such requirement is that each election district must have four inspectors regardless of size or makeup. This requirement, provided for by the election law, is often unnecessary given the small size of some election districts. These inspectors are paid by the locality.
By giving election commissioners the flexibility to designate how many inspectors are necessary, the State can not only provide mandate relief that aids local budgets, but it can also provide commissioners the abil- ity to designate an amount of inspectors that properly reflects the unique characteristics and challenges of the varied areas that make up our State.
Legislative history
S.7394 of 2018
Fiscal implications
Savings to localities.
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.