What's happening
This bill allows local boards of elections to create alternative, bipartisan poll site staffing plans for more efficient election administration.
Why it matters
Gives local boards of elections flexibility. to design staffing plans that better match local needs, potentially improving how elections are run, especially in areas with unique logistical challenges.
Mandates bipartisan oversight at every poll site. , requiring at least four inspectors divided equally between major parties, which helps maintain election integrity and public trust in the process.
Allows for the consolidation of functions across election districts and poll sites. , which could lead to more efficient resource use, cost savings, and simpler poll management, as long as the integrity of vote tabulation for each district is preserved.
Requires state-level approval and compliance with specific state regulations. , ensuring that local innovations in staffing do not compromise overall election security or violate established standards.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Flexible Poll Staffing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A1454
- Ordered to third reading cal.1678
- 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 Flexible Poll Staffing
Signed by Governor · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3146
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 alternative provisions for poll site staffing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 3-500 to read as follows:
§ 3-500. Alternative poll site staffing plan. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of title four of this article, a board of elections may design an alternative poll site staffing plan to more efficiently conduct an election in accordance with this section. Such alternative poll site staffing plan must be filed with the state board of elections.
2. An alternative staffing plan shall provide for at least four inspectors, equally divided among the major parties, to be assigned to each poll site, and all staffing must be likewise bipartisan. An alternative staffing plan may consolidate election district and poll site staffing functions to efficiently conduct an election pursuant to this chapter, provided the tabulation of votes by election district shall not be impaired unless consolidation of election districts for an election is otherwise permitted by this chapter, and such staffing plan complies with 9 NYCRR 6210.19(c).
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January 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.
LBD07190-01-9
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 alternative provisions for poll site staffing
Purpose
To ensure the ability to adequately staff and resource polling sites based upon on the individual needs of poll locations.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill adds a new subdivision 3-500 to the election law authorizing alternative poll site staffing. Boards of Elections will be provided the flexibility needed to adequately staff a poll site. Alter- native staffing plans must be filed with the State Board of Elections, maintain bipartisan election administration, ensure voter tabulation by election district, and ensure any alternative staffing arrangement complies with the obligation of the local board to ensure voters are able to vote in a timely manner.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
While there have been amendments to the election law, the election district structure and staffing pattern prescribed therein still largely date to a time when elections were conducted on lever voting machines assigned to specific election districts. Poll site organization and voter flow through the poll site is now very different. This legislation allows boards of elections to determine poll site staffing based on the actual demands of the poll site and the needs of the voters as opposed to specific statutory requirements that may not meet the needs of some poll sites.
Legislative history
2017-2018: A.7383 (Buchwald) - Passed Assembly 134 to 0 in 2017 and 2018 / S.6434 (Akshar) - Advanced to Third Reading
Effective date
This act shall take effect the first of January succeeding enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.