Senate Bill S2738A

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Creates a pilot program to provide for an instant runoff voting method to be used in up to ten local governments for two years and provides for repeal of provisions

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections 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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Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2015-S2738 - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Elections
Law Section:
Elections
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: S3589
2011-2012: S422
2013-2014: S3274
2017-2018: S5605
2019-2020: S2517
2021-2022: S824

2015-S2738 - Summary

Creates a pilot program to provide for an instant runoff voting method to be used in up to ten local governments, selected by the state board of elections, in election years 2020 and 2021; requires report to state legislature.

2015-S2738 - Sponsor Memo

2015-S2738 - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  2738

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 28, 2015
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to create a pilot program to test an instant runoff voting method
  of elections and providing for the  repeal  of  such  provisions  upon
  expiration thereof

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

  Section 1. Legislative findings. The current system  of  voting  often
results  in  the  election of a candidate who does not have the majority
support of the electorate  when  there  are  three  or  more  candidates
running  for  an elective office. Further, where there are three or more
candidates for an elective office, voters often will not vote for  their
preferred  candidate to avoid "wasting" their vote on a "spoiler" candi-
date.   Rather, they will vote against  a  candidate  they  dislike,  by
voting  for  a leading candidate that they perceive as the lesser of two
evils. The result of the current system in multi-candidate races can  be
the election of candidates who lack majority support.
  The  instant  runoff  voting method provides for the majority election
for elective offices. Instant runoff voting gives voters the  option  to
rank  candidates according to the order of their choice. If no candidate
obtains a majority of first-choice votes, then the  candidate  receiving
the  fewest  first-choice  votes  is  eliminated. Each vote cast for the
eliminated candidate shall be transferred to the candidate who  was  the
voter's  next  choice  on  the  ballot. The process is continued until a
candidate receives a majority of votes.
  There are several potential benefits  to  the  instant  runoff  voting
method.  First,  voters  are free to mark their ballot for the candidate
they truly prefer without fear that their choice will help  elect  their
least preferred candidate. Second, it ensures that the elected candidate
has true majority support. In addition, the instant runoff voting method
will  (1)  promote  higher  voter  turnout,  and  (2) encourage positive

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00203-01-5
              

co-Sponsors

2015-S2738A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Elections
Law Section:
Elections
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: S3589
2011-2012: S422
2013-2014: S3274
2017-2018: S5605
2019-2020: S2517
2021-2022: S824

2015-S2738A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates a pilot program to provide for an instant runoff voting method to be used in up to ten local governments, selected by the state board of elections, in election years 2020 and 2021; requires report to state legislature.

2015-S2738A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S2738A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 2738--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 28, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, PERKINS, SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered
  printed,  and  when  printed  to  be  committed  to  the  Committee on
  Elections -- recommitted to the Committee on Elections  in  accordance
  with  Senate  Rule  6,  sec.  8 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to create a pilot program to test an instant runoff voting method
  of elections and providing for the  repeal  of  such  provisions  upon
  expiration thereof

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

  Section 1. Legislative findings. The current system  of  voting  often
results  in  the  election of a candidate who does not have the majority
support of the electorate  when  there  are  three  or  more  candidates
running  for  an elective office. Further, where there are three or more
candidates for an elective office, voters often will not vote for  their
preferred  candidate to avoid "wasting" their vote on a "spoiler" candi-
date.   Rather, they will vote against  a  candidate  they  dislike,  by
voting  for  a leading candidate that they perceive as the lesser of two
evils. The result of the current system in multi-candidate races can  be
the election of candidates who lack majority support.
  The  instant  runoff  voting method provides for the majority election
for elective offices. Instant runoff voting gives voters the  option  to
rank  candidates according to the order of their choice. If no candidate
obtains a majority of first-choice votes, then the  candidate  receiving
the  fewest  first-choice  votes  is  eliminated. Each vote cast for the
eliminated candidate shall be transferred to the candidate who  was  the
voter's  next  choice  on  the  ballot. The process is continued until a
candidate receives a majority of votes.
  There are several potential benefits  to  the  instant  runoff  voting
method.  First,  voters  are free to mark their ballot for the candidate
they truly prefer without fear that their choice will help  elect  their

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00203-02-6
              

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