S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10317
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 20, 2016
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BUCHWALD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to watchers during
election
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 8-500 of the election law, as amended by chapter 9
of the laws of 1978, subdivisions 1 and 3 as amended by chapter 373 of
the laws of 1978, and subdivision 4 as amended by chapter 254 of the
laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
S 8-500. Watchers; provision for. 1. At any general, special, town or
village election, any party committee [or] AND ANY independent body
whose candidates are upon the ballot, [and at any primary election, any
two or more candidates and any political committee] may have for each
election district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of
whom may be within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be
appointed by the [chairman] CHAIR OR OTHER OFFICER of any such party,
committee or independent body [or by the candidates].
2. AT ANY PRIMARY ELECTION, ANY PARTY COMMITTEE, ANY TWO OR MORE
CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT AND ANY POLITICAL COMMITTEE MAY HAVE FOR EACH
ELECTION DISTRICT THREE WATCHERS AT ANY ONE TIME, NOT MORE THAN ONE OF
WHOM MAY BE WITHIN THE GUARD RAIL AT ANY ONE TIME. WATCHERS SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE CHAIR OR OTHER OFFICER OF ANY SUCH PARTY, COMMITTEE OR
BY ANY TWO CANDIDATES.
3. Watchers may be present at the polling place at least fifteen
minutes before the unlocking and examination of any voting machine or
ballot box at the opening of the polls, until after the signing of the
inspectors' returns and proclamation of the result.
[3.] 4. The appointment of watchers for any election shall be by a
certificate in writing issued by the [chairman or secretary of the poli-
tical party or independent body, or the candidates] APPOINTING
AUTHORITY. Such certificate shall be delivered to an inspector at the
election district.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15564-01-6
A. 10317 2
[4.] 5. Each watcher must be a qualified voter of the city or county
in which he or she is to serve. No person shall be appointed or act as a
watcher who is a candidate for any public office to be voted for by the
voters of the election district in the same election in which the watch-
er is to serve. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as
prohibiting any such candidate from visiting a polling place in such
district on an election day while the polls are open.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.