What's happening
This bill requires the state to notify voters about candidates and upcoming elections through mailed guides, postcards, emails, and public broadcast announcements.
Why it matters
Increases voter access to candidate information. by requiring the state to gather and distribute standardized candidate biographies and stances on key issues, potentially helping voters make more informed decisions.
Mandates multiple, targeted voter reminders. (mail, email, and postcards) for each election, which could reduce voter confusion and increase turnout, especially among those who may not actively seek out election details.
Requires public broadcasters to announce upcoming elections multiple times daily. in the days leading up to voting, ensuring broad public awareness—including among voters who may not use digital or mailed resources.
Creates a centralized, publicly accessible online resource. for all voter guide information, which can serve as a reliable, official reference for anyone seeking up-to-date details on candidates and elections.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Voters About Elections
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3219
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 notifying voters of the candidates and upcoming elections
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 8 of the election law is amended by adding a new title 7 to read as follows:
TITLE VII
VOTER NOTIFICATIONS Section 8-700. Voting guide.
8-702. Postcards.
8-704. Television and radio.
§ 8-700. Voting guide. 1. Any candidate seeking nomination or election at the next general and primary election to any public office, or a designated agent acting on behalf of such candidate, may, at least six weeks prior to the general and primary election, file with the board of elections with which nominating and designating petitions and certificates for such office are filed pursuant to section 6-144 of this chapter a sworn statement containing biographical information, such as the candidate's occupation, educational and occupational background, prior governmental experience, and any other personal background or experience that the candidate deems relevant to the election campaign, and answers to issue based questions drafted by the state board of elections that are specified to each position.
2. The state board of elections shall, by regulation, establish the format and length of the statement authorized under this section and shall provide to candidates a standardized form for preparing such statement.
3. Within five days after the last day for filing statements under this section, all local boards of elections shall forward all such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02002-02-9
S. 3219 2
candidate biographies to the state board of elections in electronic form in a manner to be prescribed by the state board of elections.
4. In the event that any candidate biographies received by the state board of elections, from any local board of elections, is not in electronic form, the state board of elections shall, within ten days after receipt of such candidate biography, convert such candidate biography to electronic form.
5. The state board of elections shall mail and email, if a registered voter's email is available to the state board of elections, to every registered voter in each household in the state a voting guide consisting of all biographical information and answers to issue based questions, as outlined in subdivision one of this section, received from each candidate for whom the receiver of this mailing can vote for in the upcoming election. In the event the state board of elections determines that distribution of the voting guide would be more efficient and economical if done by the local boards of elections, the state board is hereby authorized to instruct all boards of elections to distribute the voting guide to at least one registered voter in each household. Should the state board so instruct the boards of elections, it shall provide a sufficient number of voting guides to each board of elections and shall promptly reimburse each board for the actual cost of postage incurred by said board in distributing the voting guides provided that said board utilize the lowest feasible postage rate charged by the United States postal service. The distribution of the voting guides to registered voters or households shall be made at least three weeks before the election to which they pertain.
6. The state board of elections shall maintain a website where all voter guide information is maintained, updated and accessible to the general public.
§ 8-702. Postcards. For each primary and general election, the state board of elections shall mail and email, if a registered voter's email is available to the state board of elections, to at least one registered voter in each household a postcard which contains information for the upcoming election that contains the date of the election. The board shall send the postcards twice before the election with the first mailing to be made no earlier than fifteen days and no later than ten days prior to the election; and with the second mailing to be made no earlier than seven days and no later than five days before the election.
§ 8-704. Television and radio. For ten consecutive days before each primary and general election, all major television and radio stations using public airwaves or doing business within the state shall inform their audience at least four times each day between the hours of seven a.m. and eleven p.m. of the upcoming election. Each of the four required notifications shall air at least three hours apart.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth 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 notifying voters of the candidates and upcoming elections
Purpose
To set forth a procedure of the distribution of voting guides and post- cards to all registered voters and to require all major television and radio stations using public airwaves to broadcast voting information prior to all elections.
Summary of provisions
Section 1
Voting Guide: any candidate seeking nomination or election at the next primary and general election to any public office shall, at least six weeks prior to said election provide biographical information, a candi- date's current occupation, educational and occupational experience, and any other personal background or experience that the candidate deems relevant to the election campaign, as well as any answers to issue based questions that the candidate wishes to publish. The state board of elections shall establish the format and length of the statement, and shall provide candidates with a standard form for preparing such state- ment. Within five days of the last day for filing statements under this section, all local boards are expected to forward these candidate biog- raphies to the state board in electronic form. The state board shall mail all registered voters in each household within the state a voting guide consisting of all biographical information and answers to related questions.
Postcards: For each primary and general election, the board of elections must mail at least one registered voter in each household a postcard notifying the voter of the date of the upcoming election. The board of elections must send two postcards, the first being no earlier than fifteen days and no later than ten days prior to the election; and the second being no earlier than seven and no later than five days before the election.
Television and Radio: For the ten days before the election, the state board of elections shall require all television and radio stations using public airwaves or doing business within the state to inform their audi- ence at least four times a day, each day between the hours of seven A.M. and eleven P.M. of the upcoming election.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
Voter participation in elections is the lifeblood of our democracy. Voter participation in New York State has been on the steady decline since the 1950's when in 1953 the Mayor of the City of New York was elected with 93% of the eligible voters casting a ballot. 60 years later in 2013, only 24% of voters who were eligible cast a ballot - a record low for that race. In the 2014 New York State Gubernatorial race, only 29% of eligible voters turned out according to the NY State Board of Elections, which ranked 49th out of 50 states nationally. In the 2016 Presidential primary, less than 20% of eligible voters in New York State turned out to vote which also ranked 49'h out of 50. With voting in New York State consistently at its lowest levels ever, this bill would assist in reminding voters when elections are taking place so that they will be better able to participate.
Legislative history
2017: A6224 (Carroll)
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.