What's happening
This bill allows courts to consider sworn testimony or other evidence to verify petition signatures that don't match voter records.
Why it matters
Reduces risk of wrongful disqualification. By allowing courts to consider sworn testimony or other evidence, the bill helps ensure that valid petition signatures aren't rejected solely due to signature mismatches, which can happen because of age, disability, or simple variation in handwriting.
Increases access and fairness. This change especially benefits voters whose signatures may have changed over time or who struggle to maintain a consistent signature, such as elderly voters or those with certain disabilities, making the petition process more inclusive.
Strengthens the integrity of petition challenges. The bill offers a more robust process for verifying the authenticity of signatures, potentially reducing frivolous challenges and ensuring that only truly invalid signatures are removed from petitions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Testimony on Petition Signatures
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A120
- Ordered to third reading cal.1538
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Allow Signature Testimony in Court
Signed by Governor · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3133
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MYRIE -- 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 testimony related to voter's signature on a petition
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 6-134 of the election law, as added by chapter 709 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
5. The use of titles, initials or customary abbreviations of given names by the signers of, or witnesses to, designating petitions or the use of customary abbreviations of addresses of such signers or witnesses, shall not invalidate such signatures or witness statement provided that the identity of the signer or witness as a registered voter can be established by reference to the signature on the petition and that of a person whose name appears in the registration poll ledgers, provided, however, nothing in this section shall prevent a court from receiving sworn testimony or other admissible evidence as to the authenticity of a signature when such signature would otherwise be invalidated for not matching the signature on file with the board of elections.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the fifteenth of December next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00937-01-9
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 testimony related to voter's signature on a petition
Purpose
To ensure voters participation in the electoral process by recognizing that a voter's signature may often not be identical.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends section 6-134 of the election law to provide that a court may receive sworn testimony from a signer of a designating peti- tion as to the authenticity of his or her own signature.
Justification
Signatures often are not made identically by the same person each and every time. This bill acknowledges this fact, and helps establish that neither a voter's participation in the political process nor a candi- date's access to the ballot should be jeopardized due to such a vari- ation. The bill clarifies that a court may take testimony from a voter about the authenticity of his or her own signature.
Legislative history
2018: A.9921A (Buchwald) - Passed Assembly 138 to 0
Fiscal implications
None
Effects on fines, terms of imprisonment and other penal sanctions
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the fifteenth day of December after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.