What's happening
This bill requires the New York board of elections to publicly and promptly post detailed absentee ballot data online and in public places.
Why it matters
Increases election transparency. By requiring the board of elections to publish detailed absentee, military, and special ballot data—including both accepted and rejected ballots—voters and watchdog groups can more easily track voting processes and outcomes for each election district.
Improves public trust and accountability. Posting rejected ballots along with the specific reasons for rejection helps the public understand why certain votes weren’t counted, potentially reducing suspicions of unfair or arbitrary disqualification.
Enables quicker identification of systemic issues. Because the data must be updated and available promptly, patterns or irregularities in ballot acceptance or rejection (such as recurring technicalities or disproportionately affected groups) can be identified and addressed sooner.
Facilitates independent analysis. By making granular data publicly accessible online, researchers, journalists, and civic groups can independently analyze trends in absentee ballot handling, supporting informed debate and policy-making.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Post Absentee Ballot Totals Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Require Public Ballot Updates
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Robert C. Carroll
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8900
IN SENATE
August 11, 2020
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- 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 requiring the board of elections to provide the public with free and timely access to updated absentee ballot data
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 9-209 of the election law is amended by adding a new paragraph (f) to read as follows:
(f) Upon completing the casting and canvassing of absentee, military, and special ballots for each election district, the board of elections shall post running totals of absentee, military, and special ballots accepted and rejected for each election district in a public place and on the internet. The board of elections shall post such running totals of rejected absentee, military, and special ballots by each of the reasons each ballot was rejected for each election district on the internet.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD17014-01-0
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 requiring the board of elections to provide the public with free and timely access to updated absentee ballot data
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide the public with free and timely access to absentee ballot data online.
Summary of specific provisions
Adds paragraph (f) to section 9-209 of the election law to require Boards of Elections to post on the internet running totals of accepted and rejected absentee, military, and special ballots by election district, with rejected ballots broken down by the reason each ballot was rejected.
Justification
In the aftermath of the June 2020 primary elections, Boards of Elections failed to provide the public with timely updates to absentee ballot canvassing information. Our democracy relies on trust in our electoral system. To restore the public's trust, the state should require Boards of Elections to provide clear data on absentee, military, and special ballots accepted and rejected on the internet, for free public access.
Prior legislative history
N/A.
Fiscal implications
N/A.
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.