S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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7584
I N S E N A T E
April 23, 2010
___________
Introduced by Sen. OPPENHEIMER -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to use of lever voting
machines and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
tion thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 1803 of the education law, as
amended by chapter 461 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as
follows:
5. Votes upon the adoption of a resolution shall be cast in the same
manner as votes for the election of school district trustees. The
commissioner of education may order such modifications in the manner of
voting as are customary for school district elections in the community
affected by such vote. Such modifications may include the use of voting
machines, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO THOUSAND THIR-
TY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, and shall include the use of absentee ballots
as provided under section two thousand eighteen-a or two thousand eigh-
teen-b of this chapter, whichever shall apply.
S 2. Subdivision 8 of section 1803-a of the education law, as added
by chapter 236 of the laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:
8. The commissioner of education may order such modifications in the
manner of voting on the resolution described in subdivision two of
section eighteen hundred three of this [chapter] ARTICLE and for the
election described in subdivision seven of this section as are customary
in school district elections in the community affected by such vote.
Such modifications may include the use of voting machines, AS PROVIDED
IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO THOUSAND THIRTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER,
and the use of nominating petitions.
S 3. Paragraph g of subdivision 2 of section 1951 of the education
law, as added by chapter 795 of the laws of 1967 and such section as
renumbered by chapter 378 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as
follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09411-06-0
S. 7584 2
g. If the board of cooperative educational services shall so deter-
mine, voting machines, INCLUDING LEVER VOTING MACHINES, may be used for
recording the vote at such meeting. Before any such machine is used at
any such meeting, the inspectors of election shall examine it and see
that all the counters are set at zero (000) and that the ballot labels
are properly placed, and that the machine is in all respects in proper
condition for use. The use of such machine shall be deemed a compliance
with any provision of law requiring the vote to be by ballot. The board
of cooperative educational services may purchase the necessary voting
machine or machines; or if the county board of elections shall consent
thereto, such machines belonging to the county or belonging to the town
in which any part of said board of cooperative educational services
shall be located may be used at any such meeting, the expense of deliv-
ery and returning and setting up, and any other expense connected there-
with shall be defrayed by the board of cooperative educational services;
but such machines belonging to the county shall not be so used at the
time or times when they may be required under the election law. NOTHING
IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
TO MAINTAIN THE CARE, CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF LEVER VOTING MACHINES.
S 4. Subdivision 1 of section 2035 of the education law, as amended
by chapter 571 of the laws of 1958, is amended to read as follows:
1. If the trustees or board of education of any school district shall
so determine, voting machines, INCLUDING LEVER VOTING MACHINES, may be
used for recording the vote on elections and questions, or either, at
the school district meetings or elections, annual and special, or
either, in such district. Before any such machine is used at any such
meeting or election, the inspectors of election shall examine it and see
that all the counters are set at zero (000) and that the ballot labels
are properly placed, and that the machine is in all respects in proper
condition for use. The use of such machine shall be deemed a compliance
with any provision of law requiring the vote to be by ballot. Such trus-
tees or board of education, with district funds available, may purchase
the necessary voting machine or machines; or, if the county board of
elections shall consent thereto, such machines belonging to the county
or belonging to the town in which any part of said school district shall
be located, may be used at any such meeting, the expense of delivery and
returning and setting up, and any other expense connected therewith, to
be defrayed by the school district; but such machines belonging to the
county shall not be so used at the time or times when they may be
required under the election law. NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO MAINTAIN THE CARE, CUSTO-
DY OR CONTROL OF LEVER VOTING MACHINES.
S 5. Paragraph l of subdivision 9 of section 2502 of the education
law, as added by chapter 65 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as
follows:
l. Voting for the election of members of such board of education shall
be by voting machine, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO
THOUSAND THIRTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, and shall be governed by the
applicable provisions of the election law with respect to voting
machines.
S 6. Paragraph l of subdivision 9-a of section 2502 of the education
law, as amended by chapter 36 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as
follows:
l. Voting for the election of members of such board of education shall
be by voting machine, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO
THOUSAND THIRTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, and shall be governed by the
S. 7584 3
applicable provisions of the election law with respect to voting
machines; provided, however, that a single polling place, at a location
within the school district of the city of Rensselaer specified by the
board of education not later than thirty days prior to the annual school
election, shall be utilized.
S 7. Paragraph l of subdivision 10 of section 2553 of the education
law, as added by chapter 242 of the laws of 1974, is amended to read as
follows:
l. Voting for the election of members of such board of education shall
be by voting machine, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO
THOUSAND THIRTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, and shall be governed by the
applicable provisions of the election law with respect to voting
machines.
S 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed December 31, 2012.