What's happening
This bill temporarily increases the signature requirement to 3.75% for certain political petitions outside New York City.
Why it matters
Raises barriers for candidates and small parties. By increasing the signature requirement to 3.75% of enrolled party voters for certain petitions outside NYC, it becomes harder for less-established candidates or third parties to get on the ballot, potentially reducing voter choice.
Impacts local political dynamics. The higher threshold applies to most local offices (excluding some committee positions), so it could shift the competitiveness of races and possibly favor incumbents or well-organized parties.
Short-term but significant change. The bill’s provisions are temporary, expiring at the end of 2019, but could set a precedent for future changes and provide insight into the effects of tighter ballot access requirements.
Preserves some existing flexibilities. The bill maintains certain signature reductions from a previous 2019 law, so not all signature rules become more stringent, indicating an attempt at balance between access and control.
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Who cares
Candidates outside New York City
The bill would set a 3.75% party-enrollment signature requirement for designating petitions, except for ward, town, city or county committee positions, through December 31, 2019.
Political parties and petition organizers
The bill would base the requirement on the preceding enrollment of party voters in the relevant political unit, excluding inactive voters, and apply the reductions specified in subdivision four.
Election boards outside New York City
They would need to apply the temporary signature rule when reviewing covered designating petitions.
Headline styles
Change Petition Signature Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to elections
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4002
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- 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 signatures for designating petitions for political subdivisions outside the city of New York; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6-136 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. Notwithstanding subdivision two of this section, for designating petitions for political subdivisions outside the city of New York, except for the position of member of ward, town, city or county committee, such petitions must be signed by not less than three and threequarters per centum, as determined by the preceding enrollment, of the then enrolled voters of the party residing within the political unit in which the office or position is to be voted for (excluding voters in inactive status). The reductions provided by subdivision four of this section as added by chapter seventeen of the laws of two thousand nineteen shall also apply.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2019 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10192-01-9
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 signatures for desig- nating petitions for political subdivisions outside the city of New York; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose of bill
To ensure ballot access for a variety of candidates for office due to the recent change in the primary election date.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of this bill adds a new subdivision 5 of § 6-136 of the election law to reduce the minimum petition signature requirement for all public offices to be filled in 2019, with the exception of offices in New York City, to 3.75 percent of the enrolled voters of the party residing within the political unit in which the office or position is to be voted for.
Section two is the effective date.
Justification
In 2019, after 8 years of impasse the legislature has passed legislation reunifying state, local and federal (non-presidential) primary elections to be held on the 4th Tuesday in June, effective immediately.
However, because of the imminent change in the political calendar neces- sary to meet the requirements for a June primary, candidates for local offices in 2019 are required to begin circulating designating petitions at the end of February 2019, rather than in mid-June, 2019. This bill would temporarily reduce the number of signatures required for designat- ing petitions by 1/4 for candidates running for office, with the excep- tion of NYC, in 2019 to allow candidates to organize their campaigns, print their petitions, and begin collecting voters' signatures after the change in the primary date.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2019 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.