Senate Bill S2866

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S2866A

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the election law, in relation to watchers


 PURPOSE :

The bill authorizes attorneys to be poll watchers anywhere in New York
if they are state residents and licensed to practice law in the state.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1: Amends Election Law section 8-500(4) to allow attorneys who
are state residents and licensed to practice law in the state to
require be watchers anywhere in the State.

Section 2: Provides for the Act to take effect immediately.

 EXISTING LAW :

Under current law, a poll watcher must be registered to vote in the
county in which he is to serve.

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

Attorneys licensed to practice law in New York are not restricted in
their practices to any locality or court. They may practice before any
court in the state, as well as before the boards of elections
everywhere in the state. They are also trained as observers and to
accurately report their observations. There should be no restriction
on their ability to be in a polling place on election day, where their
skills can be invaluable in both detecting improper conduct, such as
voter intimidation and suppression, and electioneering, and in
obtaining a quick resolution of such unlawful conduct by reporting it
to the appropriate authorities, including election day judges. For
example, in 2006 lawyers serving as poll watchers enabled Senator
Andrea Steward-Cousins to win election by acting to stop disruptions
and voter suppression and intimidation actions in the polls in
Yonkers.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.