New York State Insider: New York State Senate: Senate Majority Builds on Election Reforms.

 

Each year, the Senate Majority passes a series of election reforms on the first day of session, reflecting our commitment to encouraging all eligible voters to participate and vote in national, state and local elections. They each must pass the Assembly in order to move to the Governor for ultimate signature.

The bills that we in the Senate passed last week include:

• COVID Absentee Voting For School District Elections: This bill, S.7619, which I sponsored, allows voters who are concerned about voting in-person due to an epidemic or disease outbreak to request an absentee ballot for school district and school budget elections in 2022. 

• COVID Absentee Voting for General Elections: This bill, S.7565B, sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi, extends legislation allowing COVID as an excuse for absentee voting for elections.

• Voter Registration at Second Residence: This bill, S.6214, sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, codifies the right of voters to register at a second residence.

 

• Democracy Preservation Act: This bill, S.1126A, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, prohibits corporate contributions from companies owned by foreign entities or owners. 

• Polling Places On College Campuses: This bill, S.4658, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, designates polling places for voting on college campuses under certain circumstances. 

 

• Candidate Order on Ballots: This bill, S.1283, sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky, adjusts the way candidates are listed on the ballot to encourage voters to vote for every open position.

• Portable Polling Locations for Early Voting: This bill, S.557, sponsored by Senator Rachel May, amends the election law to allow counties the option to establish two or more locations for portable polling places for early voting. 

• Absentee Ballot Drop-off Box Locations: This bill, S.492, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman, allows local Board of Elections to establish absentee ballot drop-off locations to provide voters with a convenient alternative option to submit their absentee ballots. 

• Validation of Ballots: This bill, S.253, sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, requires the canvassing of paper ballots when the express intentions of the voter are unambiguous. 

• Counting of Affidavit Ballots: This bill, S.284A, sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, requires counting affidavit ballots of eligible voters if a voter appears at a polling place in the correct county but in the incorrect election district. 

• Reduction of Time for Mailing and Receipty of Registration to Constitutional Minimum: This bill, S.2951, sponsored by Senator Brian Kavanagh, reduces the time to register to vote to the Constitutional minimum, ten days before an election for primary and general elections.