What's happening
This bill makes permanent the reduced signature requirements for election petitions in most areas outside New York City.
Why it matters
Lowers Barriers for Ballot Access. By making the reduced signature requirements permanent, this bill makes it easier for new or smaller parties and candidates—especially those outside New York City—to qualify for the ballot, potentially increasing political competition and voter choice.
Reduces Cost and Effort for Campaigns. Candidates and campaigns will spend less time and money collecting signatures, which could especially benefit grassroots campaigns or those with fewer resources.
Promotes Consistency and Predictability. Removing the expiration dates on the reduced signature requirements eliminates uncertainty about future election cycles, allowing candidates and parties to plan more effectively.
Applies Equitably Across Most Regions. The bill ensures these relaxed standards are applied broadly outside of New York City, including previously excluded counties like Erie and Nassau, which could address regional disparities in access to the political process.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Petition Rule Changes Permanent
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5860
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 15, 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 the counties of Erie and Nassau; to amend chapter
17 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to the number of signatures for designating petitions in the year 2019, in relation to making the provisions of such chapter permanent; to amend chapter 18 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to signatures for certain party positions, in relation to making the provisions of such chapter permanent; and to amend chapter 22 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to signatures for designating petitions for certain political subdivisions, in relation to making the provisions of such chapter permanent
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 6-136 of the election law, as added by chapter 17 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
4. Except for the city of New York and notwithstanding subdivision two of this section, for designations made by petition [in the year two thousand nineteen], the signature requirement numbers stated in paragraphs (a) through (l) of subdivision two of this section shall be reduced by one-quarter, rounded down to the nearest whole number.
§ 2. Subdivision 5 of section 6-136 of the election law, as added by chapter 22 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
5. Notwithstanding subdivision two of this section, for designating petitions for political subdivisions outside the city of New York [and the counties of Erie and Nassau], except for the position of member of ward, town, city or county committee, such petitions must be signed by not less than three and three-quarters 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11474-01-9
S. 5860 2
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.
§ 3. Section 2 of chapter 17 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to the number of signatures for designating petitions in the year 2019, is amended to read as follows:
§ 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].
§ 4. Section 2 of chapter 18 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to signatures for certain party positions, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately [and shall expire December 31, 2020 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed].
§ 5. Section 2 of chapter 22 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to signatures for designating petitions for certain political subdivisions, is amended to read as follows:
§ 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].
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 designating petitions for the counties of Erie and Nassau; to amend chapter 17 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to the number of signatures for designating petitions in the year 2019, in relation to making the provisions of such chapter permanent; to amend chapter 18 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to signatures for certain party positions, in relation to making the provisions of such chapter permanent; and to amend chapter 22 of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to signatures for designating petitions for certain political subdivi- sions, in relation to making the provisions of such chapter permanent
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill reduces the number of designating petitions for a variety of candidates for office.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill makes permanent certain revisions to section 6-136 that tempo- rarily reduced the required number of designating petitions to appear on the ballot by removing the sunset date of the law. In addition to making those reductions permanent, it also extends those reductions to all areas of the state outside of New York City.
Justification
In 2019, after 8 years of impasse the legislature has passed legislation reunifying state, local and federal (non-presidential) primary elections, now to be held on the 4th Tuesday in June effective imme- diately. Legislation in 2019 temporarily reduced the number of signa- tures required for designating petitions by 1/4 for candidates running for office, with the exception of NYC, to allow candidates to organize their campaigns, print their petitions, and begin collecting voters' signatures after the change in the primary date. This bill extends those reductions permanently in all areas outside of NYC. In many parts of the state, the weather through the petitioning date is still cold and snowy, making petitioning challenging. A permanent reduction is a reasonable step to facilitate ballot access for all New Yorkers.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.