What's happening
This bill prohibits changes to polling place entrances or exits while polls are open, except for disability access or emergencies, with required signage.
Why it matters
Prevents mid-election confusion or manipulation. By prohibiting changes to polling place entrances or exits while polls are open, the bill aims to reduce voter confusion and the potential for intentional or accidental redirection of voters, which could disenfranchise or deter participation.
Protects accessibility and safety. The limited exceptions—allowing changes only for increased disability access or in emergencies—ensure that essential modifications can still be made to protect vulnerable voters and public safety without undermining election integrity.
Requires clear communication. Any allowed changes during voting hours must be clearly marked with signage at the former entrance or exit, helping voters quickly understand any necessary rerouting and reducing the risk of voters missing their opportunity to cast a ballot.
Addresses potential for bad faith actions. By restricting when and why entrances/exits can be altered, the bill seeks to prevent last-minute tactics that might be used to confuse or suppress voters, especially in high-turnout or contentious elections.
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Who cares
Election officials and poll workers
The bill would prohibit changes to polling-place entrances or exits while polls are open except to increase disability access or address an emergency threatening public safety.
Voters with disabilities
The bill would allow entrance and exit changes during voting hours when they increase access for persons with disabilities.
Voters using polling places
Any permitted entrance or exit change would have to be clearly marked with signage next to the former entrance or exit.
Headline styles
Limit Polling Place Changes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.232
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.177
- Substituted for A8257
- Referred to election law
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.257
Show 10 earlier actions
- Referred to elections
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to election law
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.902
- 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.
Protect Polling Place Entrances
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jonathan Jacobson
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5188
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- 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 changes to the entrance and exit of polling places
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 8-104 of the election law, as amended by chapter 263 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
1. The American flag shall be kept displayed at each polling place throughout the election. Facsimile ballots, voter information posting and distance markers shall not be taken down, torn or defaced during the election. While the polls are open no person shall do any electioneering within the polling place, or in any public street, within a one hundred foot radial measured from the entrances designated by the inspectors of election, to such polling place or within such distance in any place in a public manner; and no political banner, button, poster or placard shall be allowed in or upon the polling place or within such one hundred foot radial. While the polls are open no person shall consume any alcoholic beverages within the polling place. While the polls are open no person shall make any change, alteration or modification to any entrance to or exit from the polling place unless such change, alteration or modification allows for increased access for persons with disabilities or is necessary to maintain public safety due to the occurrence of an emergency. Any such change, alteration or modification shall be clearly marked on signage placed adjacent to the former entrance or exit.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 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 to be made on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10312-01-9
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 changes to the entrance and exit of polling places
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that while polling locations are open, the entrance to and exit from the locations are not altered, except to increase access or to maintain public safety, and any alteration is clearly marked with signage next to the former entrance or exit.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends Subdivision 1 of section 8-104 of the election law, as amended by chapter 263 of the laws of 2003, to provide that while polling locations are open, neither the entrance nor the exit shall be altered unless the change increases access for persons with disabilities or in order to maintain public safety or due to an emergen- cy. Any alteration must be clearly marked with signage placed adjacent to the former entrance or exit.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Changes in the entrance or exit to a polling location, and lack of signage concerning those changes, cause confusion and increases barriers to political participation. This bill reduces barriers to voting by reducing the likelihood voters will be confused about the polling location and entrance.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect 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 to be made on or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.