Assembly Bill A8608

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters, and increases penalties for violations of the elective franchise

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2023-A8608 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S263
Current Committee:
Assembly Election Law
Law Section:
Election Law
Laws Affected:
Add §§17-151 & 17-153, amd §17-166, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: A9250, S2554
2011-2012: A5915, S1009
2013-2014: A2627, S676
2015-2016: A5841, S2352
2017-2018: A3122, S2952
2019-2020: A7972, S5758
2021-2022: A9555, S1032

2023-A8608 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters.

2023-A8608 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8608
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 12, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE, SILLITTI -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Election Law
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election  law,  in  relation to prohibiting the
   suppression of voters
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "deceptive
 practices and voter suppression prevention act".
   §  2.  The  election  law is amended by adding a new section 17-151 to
 read as follows:
   § 17-151. DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.   1. ANY PERSON,  POLITICAL  COMMITTEE,
 LABOR  ORGANIZATION,  CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY, WHETHER ACTING UNDER
 COLOR OF LAW OR OTHERWISE, WHO KNOWINGLY COMMUNICATES OR KNOWINGLY CAUS-
 ES TO BE COMMUNICATED DECEPTIVE INFORMATION, KNOWING SUCH INFORMATION TO
 BE FALSE AND, IN ACTING IN THE  MANNER  DESCRIBED,  PREVENTS  OR  DETERS
 ANOTHER  PERSON  FROM  EXERCISING  THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN ANY ELECTION, IS
 GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
   2. THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS  ARE  APPLICABLE  TO  THIS  SECTION:  (A)
 "DECEPTIVE INFORMATION" MEANS FALSE INFORMATION REGARDING: (I) THE TIME,
 PLACE,  OR  MANNER  OF  ANY  ELECTION;  (II)  THE  QUALIFICATIONS FOR OR
 RESTRICTIONS ON VOTER ELIGIBILITY FOR ANY ELECTION, INCLUDING ANY PENAL-
 TIES ASSOCIATED WITH VOTING  BY  INELIGIBLE  VOTERS;  (III)  INFORMATION
 REGARDING  A  VOTER'S  REGISTRATION  STATUS  OR ELIGIBILITY; OR (IV) THE
 POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION OF ANY CANDIDATE; AND
   (B) "ELECTION" AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO APPLY TO AND
 INCLUDE ALL ELECTIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE  OR  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK
 BOARDS  OF  ELECTIONS,  OR  ANY COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, INCLUDING ANY
 GENERAL, PRIMARY, RUN-OFF, OR SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ANY  STATE  OR  LOCAL
 OFFICE OR BALLOT PROPOSITION.
   3.  ANY  PERSON  AGGRIEVED  BY  A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
 SECTION MAY INSTITUTE A CIVIL ACTION  OR  OTHER  PROPER  PROCEEDING  FOR
 PREVENTATIVE  RELIEF,  OR MAY APPLY FOR A PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY INJUNC-
 TION, RESTRAINING ORDER, DECLARATORY JUDGMENT, OR  OTHER  ORDER  IN  ANY
 COURT WITH JURISDICTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-100 OF THIS CHAPTER.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

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