What's happening
This bill allows state election commissioners to solicit proposals for voting machines and requires vendors to provide ten years of service and maintenance.
Why it matters
Centralizes authority for voting machine proposals. By allowing any state election commissioner to solicit proposals, the bill shifts the initiative for procurement from vendors to state officials, potentially increasing public oversight and standardization in the selection process.
Increases vendor accountability and long-term support. Extending the required service and maintenance period from five to ten years means vendors must commit to supporting their machines for a full decade, ensuring greater reliability and continuity for election infrastructure.
Mandates upfront cost transparency from vendors. Vendors must pay for the cost of having their machines examined as part of the proposal process, which may deter unserious bids and ensure only qualified, committed companies participate.
Aligns with evolving security and compliance standards. By requiring thorough examination and compliance with both state and federal requirements (like the Help America Vote Act), the bill aims to bolster the security, accessibility, and integrity of New York’s voting systems over the long term.
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Who cares
State Board of Elections commissioners
The bill would allow any commissioner to solicit proposals for voting machines or systems for state certification, replacing the vendor-initiated application process.
Voting machine vendors
Vendors submitting proposals would pay examination costs, and purchase contracts would require ten years of service and a written ten-year guarantee to keep equipment in good working order without additional cost.
Local boards of elections
Purchase contracts would extend required vendor service and no-additional-cost upkeep from five to ten years for the voting equipment they use.
Headline styles
Toughen Voting Machine Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
562
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, REYES, SAYEGH, SIMON, COOK, DeSTEFANO -read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to requests for proposals for voting machines and contracts for purchase of voting machines or systems
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 7-201 of the election law, as amended by chapter 181 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
1. [Any person or corporation owning or being interested in any voting machine or system may apply to have] Any commissioner of the state board of elections [examine such machine or system] may solicit requests for proposals for voting machines or systems to be certified by such board for use in New York state. [Such applicant] All such requests for proposals shall contain a provision stating that any person or entity submitting a proposal shall pay to the board before the examination of such proposed voting machine or system, a fee equal to the cost of [such examination] examining such voting machine or system. The state board of elections shall cause the machine or system to be examined and a report of the examination to be made and filed in the office of the state board. Such examination shall include a determination as to whether the machine or system meets the requirements of section 7-202 of this title and a thorough review and testing of any electronic or computerized features of the machine or system. Such report shall state an opinion as to whether the kind of machine or system so examined can safely and properly be used by voters and local boards of elections at elections, under the conditions prescribed in this article and the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act. If the report states that the machine or system can be so used, and the board after its own examination so
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02037-01-5
determines, in accordance with subdivision four of section 3-100 of this chapter, the machine or system shall be deemed approved, and machines or systems of its kind may be adopted for use at elections as herein provided. The voting machine or system shall be examined by examiners or testing laboratories to be selected for such purpose by the state board. Each examiner or laboratory shall receive compensation and expenses for making an examination and report as to each voting machine or system examined by [him or it] such examiner or laboratory. Neither any member of the state board of elections nor any examiner or owner or employee of any testing laboratory, shall have any pecuniary interest in any voting machine or system. Any form of voting machine or system not so approved, cannot be used at any election.
§ 2. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 7-204 of the election law, as amended by chapter 181 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:
1. All contracts for purchase of voting machines or systems of types approved by the state board of elections shall include, but not be limited to, requirements that the vendors provide assistance in training board of elections personnel in the operation of such machines or systems and any ancillary equipment, assistance in the conduct of all elections conducted during the first year in which each such machine or system is used and at least [five] ten years of service for all such machines or systems and ancillary equipment.
2. All such contracts shall also require the vendor to guarantee in writing to keep such machines and systems in good working order for at least [five] ten years without additional cost and to perform satisfactorily its training and service obligations under the contract and to give a sufficient bond conditioned to that effect.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.