What's happening
This bill requires certain New York counties to designate SUNY or community college campuses as early voting polling places and provides funding incentives for additional campus sites.
Why it matters
Increases access for young and student voters. By requiring SUNY or community college campuses with at least 2,500 undergraduates to serve as early voting sites in larger counties, the bill makes it easier for college students and nearby residents to vote, potentially boosting turnout among a younger demographic that traditionally votes at lower rates.
Targets campus engagement. The bill incentivizes counties to provide even more campus-based early voting locations by offering additional funding if they go beyond the minimum requirement, encouraging broader access and outreach efforts on college campuses.
Addresses geographic and equity concerns. Since campuses are often centrally located and accessible by public transportation, mandating their use as polling places could improve voting access for populations that might otherwise face travel or logistical barriers to early voting.
Creates direct funding incentives for expanded sites. The prospect of extra discretionary state funding for counties that add more campus polling locations could result in a more robust and accessible early voting infrastructure, particularly in areas with limited resources or a high concentration of students.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Colleges as Early Voting Sites
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7233
IN SENATE
January 13, 2020
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 designating certain university and community college campuses as polling places for early voting
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subdivision 2 of section 8-600 of the election law, as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2019, are amended and a new paragraph (e) is added to read as follows:
(a) [The] Subject to paragraph (e) of this subdivision, the board of elections shall designate polling places for early voting, which may include the offices of the board of elections, for persons to vote early pursuant to this title. There shall be so designated at least one early voting polling place for every full increment of fifty thousand registered voters in each county; provided, however, the number of early voting polling places in a county shall not be required to be greater than seven, and a county with fewer than fifty thousand voters shall have at least one early voting polling place.
(d) [Polling] Subject to paragraph (e) of this subdivision, polling places for early voting shall be located so that voters in the county have adequate and equitable access, taking into consideration population density, travel time to the polling place, proximity to other early voting poll sites, public transportation routes, commuter traffic patterns and such other factors the board of elections deems appropriate. The provisions of section 4-104 of this chapter, except subdivisions four and five of such section, shall apply to the designation of polling places for early voting except to the extent such provisions are inconsistent with this section.
(e)(i) Notwithstanding the board of elections' discretion to designate polling places for early voting as set forth in this subdivision, for any county required to have more than one polling place for early voting as set forth in this subdivision, the board of elections shall designate at least one state university of New York university or community
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14554-02-9
S. 7233 2
college campus located in that county with enrollment of at least two thousand five hundred undergraduate students as a polling place for the early voting period. The board of elections shall make available to that county additional discretionary funding for the administration of early voting if that county designates more than one state university of New York university or community college campus located in that county as an additional polling place for early voting for at least three consecutive weekdays during the early voting period.
(ii) For any county that is not required to have more than one polling place for early voting as set forth in this subdivision, the board of elections shall make available to that county additional discretionary funding for the administration of early voting if that county designates any state university of New York university or community college campus located in that county as an additional polling place for early voting for at least three consecutive weekdays during the early voting period.
§ 2. 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 designating certain university and community college campuses as polling places for early voting
Purpose
This bill will increase student turnout in elections by designating certain college campuses as early voting polling places.
Summary of provisions
The bill amends section 8-600 of the election law to require that coun- ties which are required to have more than one polling place for early voting designate one State University of New York university or communi- ty college campus in that county with at least 2,500 undergraduate students as a polling place for the early voting period. This section also makes discretionary funding available for any such county, or any county not required to have more than one polling place for early voting, in each case, that designates additional campuses as early voting polling sites for at least three consecutive weekdays.
Justification
Many studies show that expanding early voting sites on college and university campuses can substantially increase the student population turnout in elections. New York is the proud home to one of the largest state university systems in the country, which oversees both four-year universities and community colleges throughout the state. As we expand and perfect early voting in our state, we must ensure that young eligi- ble voters are able to cast their ballots as easily and conveniently as possible. Designating certain campuses as permanent early voting polling places and incentivizing the operation of additional temporary early voting polling sites on campuses is the single best way to ensure students have early voting access. For the many communities where college campuses are centrally located, they provide an added bonus in that early voting becomes available for those who live and work near campuses.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.