What's happening
This bill temporarily requires petitions for certain party committee positions to be signed by at least 3% of enrolled party voters in the district.
Why it matters
Raises the threshold for ballot access. By requiring at least 3% of enrolled party voters in the district to sign petitions for party committee positions, the bill makes it more challenging for candidates to qualify, potentially limiting the number of contenders and making it harder for newcomers or outsiders to participate.
Affects grassroots political engagement. The new requirement could impact local party dynamics by favoring candidates with better-established networks and resources, possibly reducing opportunities for lesser-known community members to run for party positions.
Temporary measure with immediate impact. The provision is only in effect until December 31, 2020, meaning it’s a short-term change that could influence the composition and competitiveness of party committees during a single election cycle, after which the prior, possibly lower, signature thresholds will return.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change Signature Rules for Parties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A2693
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.101
- 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.
Raise Party Petition Signatures
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2699
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- 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 signatures for certain party positions; 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 4 to read as follows:
4. Notwithstanding subdivision two of this section, for any party position of member of the ward, town, city or county committee, such petitions must be signed by not less than three per centum of the then enrolled voters of the party residing within the election district for which such position is to be voted (excluding voters in inactive status).
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2020 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.
LBD08923-02-9
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 signatures for certain party positions; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
To reduce barriers for candidates petitioning to get on the ballot.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill adds a new subdivision four to § 6-136 of the election law to reduce the petition signature requirement on party posi- tions for ward, town, city, or county committees to 3 percent of enrolled voters of the party residing within the election district.
Section 2 of the bill is the effective date and provides that the law will expire on December 31, 2020.
Justification
In 2009, Congress passed the Military and Overseas Voters Act (MOVE), which required a number of reforms to ensure military, federal workers, and overseas voters had the opportunity to cast their ballot in the general election in a timely manner. In 2012, US District Judge Gary Sharpe ruled that New York State's September primary was in violation of the MOVE Act and subsequently ordered the federal primary to be moved to the 4th Tuesday in June, leaving it to the legislature to determine when to hold state and local primaries. This left New York with two separate primaries: one for federal offices and one for state and local offices.
In 2019, after 8 years of impasse the legislature has passed legislation reunifying state, local, and federal (non-presidential) primary elections to be held on the 4th Tuesday in June, effective immediately.
However, because of the change in the political calendar necessary to meet the requirements for a June primary, candidates for party positions will have to circulate designating petitions primarily during the last weeks of winter to obtain enough signatures to appear oh the ballot. This change in the calendar necessitates a two year modification to section 6-136 of the election law to allow the impact of the new poli- tical calendar to be evaluated.
Fiscal impact on the state
None.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, except that it shall expire on December 31, 2020, and thereafter be deemed repealed.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.