What's happening
This bill amends election law to remove certain exceptions regarding the format of absentee ballots, making them more consistent with regular ballots.
Why it matters
Increases consistency in ballot format. By removing exceptions for absentee ballots, especially for primary elections, the bill ensures that absentee ballots look and function more like regular in-person ballots, which may help reduce confusion among voters and election workers.
Could enhance election integrity and transparency. Standardizing ballot formats can make it easier to audit, process, and count absentee ballots alongside regular ballots, potentially reducing errors and increasing public trust in election outcomes.
May impact candidates for local party positions. The removal of language that previously excluded certain party committee positions from absentee primary ballots could allow absentee voters to participate more fully in selecting local party representatives, possibly affecting grassroots political dynamics.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Update Absentee Ballot Format
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A2687
- Ordered to third reading cal.1183
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Update Absentee Ballot Format
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3135
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 ballots for absentee voters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 7-122 of the election law, as amended by chapter 234 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Ballots for absentee voters shall be, as nearly as practicable, in the same form as those to be voted in the district on election day, if any, except [that ballots for primary elections shall omit the party position of ward, town, city or county committee and except further] that such ballots need not have a stub, and shall have the words "Absentee Ballot", endorsed thereon.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08901-01-9
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 ballots for absentee voters
Purpose
To ensure that absentee ballots match ballots for primary elections.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 1(a) of § 7-122 of the election law to ensure that ballots for absentee voters. shall be, as nearly as practicable, in the same form as those to be voted in the district on election day.
Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.
Justification
The existing law on absentee ballots for primary elections omits party position of ward, town, city or county committee due to lack, of space on ballots from the time that lever machines were used to cast votes. This change would update the law and ensure that Election Day ballots and absentee ballots match.
Legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.