NY State Senate Bill 2009-S6909

Archive: Last Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

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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Actions

View Actions

Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 08, 2010	amended on third reading 6909a
Mar 11, 2010	advanced to third reading
Mar 10, 2010	2nd report cal.
Mar 09, 2010	1st report cal.235
Feb 24, 2010	referred to elections

Votes

- Mar 9, 2010 - Elections Committee Vote
  S6909
  
  Aye
  
  4
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  2
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  1
  
  Abstained
  
  0
  - - Elections Committee Vote: Mar 9, 2010
      
      aye (4)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Dilan
      
      Foley
      
      Serrano
      
      aye wr (2)
      
      Griffo
      
      Libous
      
      excused (1)
      
      Morahan

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2009-S6909 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10383
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §7-104, El L

2009-S6909 - Summary

Relates to political party emblems.

2009-S6909 - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6909

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the election law, in relation to party emblems


 PURPOSE :

The bill repeals the requirement that the party emblem be affixed to
the name of each candidate on the ballot.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1: Amends Election Law section 7-104, paragraph (a) of
subdivision 4, paragraph (c) of subdivision 5, and subdivision 9, to
remove the requirement that the party emblem appear with the name of
each candidate on the ballot.

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

 EXISTING LAW :

Under current law, Section 9-211 requires each county board of
elections to randomly audit 3% of their voting systems, and the party
emblem is required to appear in the box with the candidate's name.

 JUSTIFICATION :

The local boards of elections have all observed in performing the
required audit that the presence of the party emblem in the voting box
made it much more difficult to accurately perform the audit. The
marking area is not very large, and when there is another significant
mark (the emblem) contained within that area it is tedious to discern
the voter's mark from the emblem.

With the move to the use of paper ballots and optical scan systems,
there has also been some confusion among voters with respect to the
appearance of the party emblem by the candidates name. These emblems
are not recognized by most voters, and have caused some voters to
think that their ballots have already been marked. Since the party of
the candidate is clearly marked in the voting box where the
candidate's name appears, the use of the party emblem in that box is
an unnecessary relic that no longer serves any useful purpose, and it
should be removed to prevent voter and election administration staff
confusion.

This legislation was requested by the State Board of Elections in its
2010 Election Law Proposals.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2009-S6909 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6909

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 24, 2010
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections

AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to party emblems

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Paragraph (a) of subdivision 4, paragraph (c) of subdivi-
sion 5 and subdivision 9 of  section  7-104  of  the  election  law,  as
amended  by chapter 654 of the laws of 1985, subdivision 9 as renumbered
by chapter 262 of the laws of 1986, are amended to read as follows:
  (a) The [party emblem for each  political  party  represented  on  the
machine,  and  the]  party  name or other designation, and a designating
letter and number shall be affixed to the name of each candidate, or, in
case of presidential electors, to the names of the candidates for presi-
dent and vice-president of such party.
  (c) If such candidate has also been nominated by one or more independ-
ent bodies, his name shall appear only in each row or column  containing
generally  the  names  of  candidates for other offices nominated by any
such party and the name [and emblem] of each such independent body shall
appear in one such row or column to be designated by the candidate in  a
writing filed with the officer or board charged with the duty of provid-
ing  ballots,  or  if  such person shall fail to so designate, the names
[and emblems] of such independent bodies shall appear  in  such  row  or
column as such officer or board shall determine.
  9.  The [board of elections shall provide a card or printed slip to be
placed in the card holder which] BALLOT shall have printed  upon  it  in
black  ink  for  each  party  or independent row containing the names of
candidates, the image of a closed fist with index finger extended point-
ing to the party or independent row. Inset within the image of the  fist
on  a  white  space, in black letters as large as the space will permit,
shall be printed the name of the party or independent body  and  at  the
right  of  the fist and below the index finger shall be printed in black
ink [the emblem and] the designating letters of the row or column.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD15922-01-0

co-Sponsors

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10383
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §7-104, El L

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to political party emblems.

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6909A

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the election law, in relation to party emblems


 PURPOSE :

The bill repeals the requirement that the party emblem be affixed to
the name of each candidate on the ballot.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1: Amends Election Law section 7-104, paragraph (a) of
subdivision 4, paragraph (c) of subdivision 5, and subdivision 9, to
remove the requirement that the party emblem appear with the name of
each candidate on the ballot.

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

 EXISTING LAW :

Under current law, Section 9-211 requires each county board of
elections to randomly audit 3% of their voting systems, and the party
emblem is required to appear in the box with the candidate's name.

 JUSTIFICATION :

The local boards of elections have all observed in performing the
required audit that the presence of the party emblem in the voting box
made it much more difficult to accurately perform the audit. The
marking area is not very large, and when there is another significant
mark (the emblem) contained within that area it is tedious to discern
the voter's mark from the emblem.

With the move to the use of paper ballots and optical scan systems,
there has also been some confusion among voters with respect to the
appearance of the party emblem by the candidates name. These emblems
are not recognized by most voters, and have caused some voters to
think that their ballots have already been marked. Since the party of
the candidate is clearly marked in the voting box where the
candidate's name appears, the use of the party emblem in that box is
an unnecessary relic that no longer serves any useful purpose, and it
should be removed to prevent voter and election administration staff
confusion.

The emblem will remain in the area with the image of a closed fist and
extended finger and the party or independent name printed on it, which
points to the party or independent row with the candidate names.

This legislation was requested by the State Board of Elections in its
2010 Election Law Proposals.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 6909--A
    Cal. No. 235

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 24, 2010
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. ADDABBO, THOMPSON -- read twice and ordered printed,
  and  when  printed  to  be  committed to the Committee on Elections --
  reported favorably from said committee, ordered to  first  and  second
  report,  ordered  to  a  third reading, amended and ordered reprinted,
  retaining its place in the order of third reading

AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to party emblems

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Paragraph (a) of subdivision 4, paragraph (c) of subdivi-
sion 5 and subdivision 9 of  section  7-104  of  the  election  law,  as
amended  by chapter 654 of the laws of 1985, subdivision 9 as renumbered
by chapter 262 of the laws of 1986, are amended to read as follows:
  (a) The [party emblem for each  political  party  represented  on  the
machine,  and  the]  party  name or other designation, and a designating
letter and number shall be affixed to the name of each candidate, or, in
case of presidential electors, to the names of the candidates for presi-
dent and vice-president of such party.
  (c) If such candidate has also been nominated by one or more independ-
ent bodies, his name shall appear only in each row or column  containing
generally  the  names  of  candidates for other offices nominated by any
such party and the name [and emblem] of each such independent body shall
appear in one such row or column to be designated by the candidate in  a
writing filed with the officer or board charged with the duty of provid-
ing  ballots,  or  if  such person shall fail to so designate, the names
[and emblems] of such independent bodies shall appear  in  such  row  or
column as such officer or board shall determine.
  9.  The [board of elections shall provide a card or printed slip to be
placed in the card holder which] BALLOT shall have printed  upon  it  in
black  ink  for  each  party  or independent row containing the names of
candidates, the image of a closed fist with index finger extended point-
ing to the party or independent row. Inset within the image of the  fist
on  a  white  space, in black letters as large as the space will permit,
shall be printed the name of the party or independent body  and  at  the
right  of  the fist and below the index finger shall be printed in black
ink the emblem and the designating letters of the row or column.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD15922-02-0

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Senate Bill S6909

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

Actions

Votes

Mar 9, 2010 - Elections Committee Vote

Elections Committee Vote: Mar 9, 2010

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2009-S6909 - Details

2009-S6909 - Summary

2009-S6909 - Sponsor Memo

2009-S6909 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Details

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Senate Bill S6909

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Sponsored By

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.

Archive: Last Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

Actions

Votes

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

Antoine M. Thompson

2009-S6909 - Details

2009-S6909 - Summary

2009-S6909 - Sponsor Memo

2009-S6909 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Antoine M. Thompson

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Details

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2009-S6909A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments