What's happening
This bill allows full-time college or university students in New York to serve as election inspectors or poll clerks.
Why it matters
Expands the pool of eligible poll workers. by allowing full-time college or university students to serve, potentially addressing shortages and bringing in younger participants to the election process.
Sets specific eligibility criteria. for student poll workers: they must be registered voters in New York, not hold or be running for elective office, avoid conflicts of interest (not being closely related to a candidate), and demonstrate proficiency in English.
Targets students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester. , clarifying that only those carrying a full academic load qualify—ensuring committed and stable participation.
Facilitates student civic engagement. by making it easier for students to serve as poll workers in the county where their college or university is located, even if that differs from their home county, fostering local involvement and hands-on experience with democratic institutions.
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Who cares
Full-time college and university students
Students enrolled in at least twelve credit hours per semester could serve as election inspectors or poll clerks in their college’s county if registered to vote in New York and otherwise eligible.
County election boards
The bill would allow certification of eligible full-time students to staff polls in the county where their college is located.
New York City election administrators and student poll workers
Eligible students attending college in New York City could be certified to serve in any county within the city.
Headline styles
Let Students Be Poll Workers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to rules
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.
Let College Students Staff Polls
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8630
IN SENATE
June 24, 2020
Introduced by Sen. KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the appointment of college and university students as election inspectors
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3-400 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
6-a. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision six of this section, any person who is a full-time college or university student may be certified and act as an election inspector or poll clerk in the county in which such person's college or university is located, or, if located within the city of New York, then such person may be so certified in any county therein, provided he or she:
(1) is registered to vote in this state;
(2) holds no elective office;
(3) is not a candidate for any public office to be voted for by the voters of the district in which he or she is to serve, and is not the spouse, parent or child of such a candidate; and
(4) is able to speak and read the English language and write it legibly.
(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "full-time" shall mean any matriculated student enrolled in at least twelve credit hours per semester at a college, as defined by subdivision two of section six hundred one of the education law, located in this state.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00807-01-9
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 the appointment of college and university students as election inspectors
Purpose
To permit boards of elections to hire college and university students as elections inspectors without compliance with certain requirements.
Summary of provisions
Section I amends section 3-400 of the election law by adding a new subdivision 6-a which authorizes local boards of election to recruit full-time students from college and university in the city or county to serve as election inspectors, even if they do not reside in that city or county. Such student election inspectors would be exempt from the current county residency requirements, but must be registered voters residing in New York State, and meet all other existing statutory requirements.
Section II sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Every year at election time, election districts around the state are plagued by a shortage of trained staff to operate as elections inspec- tors at local polling places. One consequence of this chronic shortage is that several election districts are often forced to vote in a single polling place, an inconvenience for voters who would prefer to cast their ballots closer to home and an administrative nightmare for election workers who must maintain and close down several machines. In a presidential election year or a year with several hotly contested races, these staffing shortages are felt more acutely. In some areas of New York City, voters were forced to wait for 2-3 hours to cast their ballots during the 2000 General Election.
To ensure that every New Yorker can fully participate in the election process, we need to increase the number of trained election inspectors. New recruitment is especially important now because many of the current inspectors are senior citizens and will retire from their poll watching duties in the next few years. By recruiting young people as inspectors, New York will help alleviate a current crisis while ensuring an adequate pool of polling place personnel for many years to come.
Legislative history
2018-19: S1658 Elections 2015-16: S875/A254 - Elections/ advanced to third reading ca1.345 2014: S6535/A3515 - Elections/3rd Reading Calendar
Fiscal impact to the state
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.