Election legislation roundup: New York State Assembly

By

Mercedes Yanora

As of Aug. 27, Ballotpedia has tracked 189 election-related bills in the New York State Assembly since the beginning of the year. Of the 189, Ballotpedia tracked five from Aug. 21-27.

Democrats sponsored four, while Republicans sponsored one. The five bills are below:   

  • NY A07952: Requires the board of elections to establish an electronic system allowing absentee voters to monitor the status of their ballot and to correct an unaccepted ballot, Assembly Members Robert Carroll (D), Harvey Epstein (D), Andrew Hevesi (D), Pam Hunter (D), Alicia Hyndman (D), Charles Lavine (D), Karines Reyes (D), Rebecca Seawright (D), Jo Anne Simon (D), Phillip Steck (D), and Fred Thiele (D). 
    • As introduced, this bill:
      • Requires the board of elections to provide written documentation or online confirmation when receiving an absentee ballot.
      • Directs the board to provide a voter with written or online documentation if an absentee ballot is not accepted, including an explanation of the reason and how the ballot can be corrected.
  • NY A07959: Requires the preparation of reports on assignments of election inspectors and poll clerks, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon (D). 
    • As introduced, this bill requires county boards of elections, and the New York City election board, to submit a report one month before an election with assignments of election inspectors and poll clerks, including vacancies, and detail efforts to fill the vacancies.
  • NY A07960: Authorizes additional days of voting as a result of emergencies; includes state of emergency, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon (D). 
    • As introduced, this bill:
      • Requires boards of elections to notify voters when there is an additional day of voting due to a state of emergency, with notification to be given in the week preceding the additional day. This bill specifies where notice should be given.
      • Adds the term “state of emergency” to the list of possible emergency situations in a county for which special electoral arrangements must be made.
      • Extends the acceptable filing time period following a state of emergency to two days (from one day).
      • Authorizes the state or county board of elections to postpone a party caucus for a “reasonable” time period as a consequence of a state of emergency, up to one week after the originally scheduled date.
      • Supplies notification requirements for a postponed party caucus.
  • NY A07963: Relates to the appointment of election inspectors and poll clerks; provides that each board of elections submit a report detailing assignments of election inspectors and poll clerks; provides that each board of elections be required to fill vacancies by appointing individuals that appear on the additional inspector list, Assembly Members Charles Lavine (D) and Jo Anne Simon (D).
    • As introduced, this bill:
      • Requires county boards of elections and election coordinators in New York City to submit a report one month before the election regarding assignments of election inspectors and clerks, listing sites that do not have assigned personnel, and efforts being made to fill the assignments.
      • Requires appointments for vacancies of election inspectors, poll clerks, and election coordinators to be made from the additional inspector list by 20 days before the election.
      • Directs that vacancies for inspector at the time of the meeting of inspectors should be made from the additional inspector list, with someone of the same party being appointed.
      • Creates additional guidelines for filling vacancies of inspectors and poll clerks at the city or town level.
  • NY A07950: Requires choices of a question or proposal printed on a ballot include a brief phrase stating the effect of such choice should such choice win such question or proposal, Assembly Member Keith Brown (R). 
    • As introduced, this bill specifies the language to be used in a question or proposal on a ballot and requires the language be written by the secretary of state and approved by the attorney general. This bill also requires the language to be posted on the secretary of state’s website before printing the ballots.

During the week of Aug. 21-27, Ballotpedia tracked five House election-related bills nationally. As of Aug. 27, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,614 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the New York State Assembly and the Texas House of Representatives with 189 each, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in Colorado and Hawaii with seven each. 

As of Aug. 27, Ballotpedia has tracked 746 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 671 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 197 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control. 

The New York Assembly was scheduled to be in regular session from Jan. 4 to June 8 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 211 House bills related to election administration. Nine of these bills passed both chambers and all were enacted into law. New York is a Democratic trifecta.

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