What's happening
This bill allows boards of elections to appoint poll watchers for special, town, or village elections held solely for ballot proposals, ensuring balanced representation of advocacy groups.
Why it matters
Ensures both sides of a ballot proposal are represented. By requiring boards of elections to appoint poll watchers in a way that reflects organizations or individuals advocating for or against a proposal, the bill helps prevent one-sided oversight and supports transparency and fairness during special, town, or village elections focused solely on ballot questions.
Fills a gap where no parties/candidates are present. In elections that only feature ballot proposals (not candidates), there may be no official party or candidate representatives. This amendment allows the board of elections itself to appoint watchers, maintaining oversight where it might otherwise be lacking.
Creates a formal process for advocacy groups’ involvement. The law would formalize the inclusion of advocacy organizations in the poll-watching process, giving groups invested in the outcome of ballot questions a recognized way to observe the voting and counting process, which could increase public trust in the election’s integrity.
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Who cares
County boards of elections
They would appoint poll watchers upon request for special, town or village elections held solely on ballot proposals, ensuring equitable representation of supporters and opponents.
Organizations and individuals advocating for or against ballot proposals
They would gain a route to poll watcher representation in these proposal-only elections through county boards of elections.
Election inspectors
They would receive written appointment certificates from county boards of elections for watchers assigned to these elections.
Headline styles
Add Poll Watchers for Proposals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- 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 Poll Watchers for Proposals
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4666
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 20, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- 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 poll watchers for special, town or village elections being held for the sole purpose of a ballot proposal
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 8-500 of the election law, as amended by chapter 373 of the laws of 1978, are amended to read as follows:
1. At any general, special, town or village election, any party committee or independent body whose candidates are upon the ballot, and when a special, town or village election is being held for the sole purpose of a ballot proposal or proposals, the board of elections of the county in which the election is being held and at any primary election, any two or more candidates and any political committee may have for each election district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by the chairman of any such party, committee or independent body or by the candidates or by the board of elections, upon request, for a special, town or village election that is being held for the sole purpose of a ballot proposal or proposals. In such elections, the board of elections shall appoint watchers in a manner that ensures equitable representation of organizations or individuals that are advocating the passage or defeat of the ballot proposal or proposals.
3. The appointment of watchers for any election shall be by a certificate in writing issued by the chairman or secretary of the political party or independent body, [or] the candidates or the board of elections. Such certificate shall be delivered to an inspector at the election district.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01586-01-9
S. 4666 2
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
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 poll watchers for special, town or village elections being held for the sole purpose of a ballot proposal
Purpose of the bill
This bill will allow the county board of elections to appoint poll watchers in local special elections that are being held for the sole purpose of a ballot proposal.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 8-500 of the election law as it relates to providing poll watchers in special elections that are being held solely for ballot propositions.
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
There is currently no process for poll watchers to be appointed in special town or villages when they are being held solely for referen- dums. The law currently allows the political party committee of the candidates in elections to appoint poll watchers but does not provide a process for elections where no candidates are involved. This bill will provide appropriate transparency through citizen poll watchers for local ballot referendums which is afforded to all other elections.
Prior legislative history
A.1342 of 2017-18, A.4194 of 2015-2016
Fiscal implications for state
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that effective immediately, the addi- tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.