What's happening
This bill requires all fire district boards in New York to provide absentee ballots for fire district elections.
Why it matters
Guarantees Voter Access. By requiring fire district boards to offer absentee ballots, the bill ensures that eligible voters who cannot appear in person—due to illness, travel, disability, or other reasons—still have the opportunity to participate in fire district elections.
Strengthens Election Consistency. The amendment removes the previous option for boards to opt in or out of providing absentee ballots, standardizing access to absentee voting across all fire districts and reducing confusion or inconsistency between districts.
Promotes Accountability and Representation. Mandating absentee ballots can help increase voter participation in fire district elections, making election outcomes more representative of the community and potentially leading to decisions that better reflect residents' needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Absentee Fire Ballots
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3326
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to absentee ballots for fire district elections
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 175-b of the town law, as amended by chapter 401 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
1. The board of fire commissioners of any fire district in which officers are elected, [may] shall, by resolution, provide for absentee ballots for fire district elections, in accordance with the provisions of this section. Such resolution shall take effect at the first such election held more than sixty days after its adoption [and shall continue in effect for all such elections until a subsequent resolution providing otherwise shall, in like manner, have taken effect].
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08478-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law, in relation to absentee ballots for fire district elections
Purpose
To require absentee ballots for fire district elections.
Summary of provisions
Amends section 175-b of the Town Law.
Justification
Currently the law allows fire districts to use absentee ballots at local option. This legislation would require fire districts to provide absen- tee ballots for fire district elections. This would ensure that every taxpayer has an equal opportunity to have their voice heard regarding matters pertaining to fire districts.
Legislative history
2017-18 S/2065; S.2811/A.4038 2015-16; S.2355.A.2605 2013-14; S.6601-A, 2005-06; S.4300, 2007-08; S.4193 2009-10; S.1672, 2011-12.
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.