What's happening
This bill requires boards of elections to notify voters of polling place changes by both mail and automated phone calls.
Why it matters
Expands voter notification requirements. by mandating not just mailed notices but also automated phone calls to inform voters of polling place changes, increasing the likelihood that voters will be aware of last-minute location changes and reducing confusion on Election Day.
Targets accessibility and equity. by ensuring that all registered voters, including those who may not regularly check mail or who have barriers to accessing mailed notices, receive timely information through multiple channels.
Addresses potential voter disenfranchisement. caused by unexpected polling place changes, which can disproportionately impact elderly, disabled, or low-income voters who may have transportation or mobility challenges.
May require boards of elections to update and maintain accurate voter contact information. , particularly phone numbers, incentivizing more robust data collection and possibly sparking discussions about privacy and data management.
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Who cares
Local boards of elections
They would have to add automated calls to mailed notices when polling places change after written notice has gone out, and call voters who supplied phone numbers when polling places move under the small-district provisions.
Registered voters whose polling places change
They would receive an automated call in addition to mailed notice when an alternative polling place is designated after the initial written notice, at least five days before the next election or registration day.
Voters in election districts with fewer than 100 eligible voters
When their polling place moves under the small-district provisions, those who supplied a phone number would receive an automated call alongside the required first-class mailing 10 to 15 days before the election.
Headline styles
Notify Voters of Poll Changes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3188
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- 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 automatic dialing-announcing device call notification of a change in location of a polling place
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 4-104 of the election law is amended to read as follows:
2. If the board of elections, after designating a polling place, and after sending written notice of such polling place to each registered voter, designates an alternative polling place, it must, at least five days before the next election or day for registration, send by mail a written notice and call by automatic dialing-announcing device to each registered voter notifying him of the changed location of such polling place. If such notice is not possible the board of elections must provide for an alternative form of notice to be given to voters at the location of the previous polling place.
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 4-104 of the election law, as amended by chapter 95 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Whenever the number of voters eligible to vote in an election in any election district is less than one hundred, the polling place designated for such district may be the polling place of any other district which could properly be designated as the polling place of the first mentioned district pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except that the polling place designated for any such district may be the polling place of any other district in such city or town provided that the distance from such first mentioned district to the polling place for such other district is not unreasonable pursuant to rules or regulations prescribed by the state board of elections and provided that the total
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03996-01-9
S. 3188 2
number of persons eligible to vote in such other district in such election, including the persons eligible to vote in such first mentioned districts, is not more than five hundred. The inspectors of election and poll clerks, if any, of such other election district shall also act in all respects as the election officers for such first mentioned districts and no other inspectors shall be appointed to serve in or for such first mentioned districts. A separate poll ledger or computer generated registration list, separate voting machine or ballots and separate canvass of results shall be provided for such first mentioned districts, except that if the candidates and ballot proposals to be voted on by the voters of such districts are the same, the election districts shall be combined and shall constitute a single election district for that election. If the polling place for any election district is moved for any election, pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision, the board of elections shall, not later than ten nor more than fifteen days before such election, mail, by first class mail, to each voter eligible to vote in such election district at such election, a notice setting forth the location of the polling place for such election and specifying that such location is for such election only and call, by automatic dialing-announcing device, any voter that has supplied the board with a phone number.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 automatic dialing-an- nouncing device call notification of a change in location of a polling place
Purpose
To require the board of elections to notify voters by automatic dial- ing-announcing device whenever a polling place location is to be changed or moved providing the voter has supplied the board with a valid phone number.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 requires additional notification by automatic dialing-announc- ing device of a change in location of a polling place.
Section 2 requires voters to who have provided the board with a valid phone number
Section 3 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Currently, whenever the boards of election change a polling place they are required to send a written notification at least five days prior to the election to each registered voter notifying him or her of the change in location of the polling place. Voters may not receive the notifica- tion for various reasons, such as delivery issues or changing resi- dences. Providing an automatic dialing-announcing device call notifica- tion to voters will allow the boards to provide this important information in a more effective and efficient fashion.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.5973 Referred to Elections
Fiscal implication
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect the ninetieth day it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.