S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3290
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 4, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- 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 poll watchers for
special, town or village elections being held for the sole purpose of
a ballot proposal
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 8-500 of the election law,
as amended by chapter 373 of the laws of 1978, are amended to read as
follows:
1. At any general, special, town or village election, any party
committee or independent body whose candidates are upon the ballot, AND
WHEN A SPECIAL, TOWN OR VILLAGE ELECTION IS BEING HELD FOR THE SOLE
PURPOSE OF A BALLOT PROPOSAL OR PROPOSALS, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF THE
COUNTY IN WHICH THE ELECTION IS BEING HELD 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 of any such party, committee or independent
body or by the candidates OR BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, UPON REQUEST,
FOR A SPECIAL, TOWN OR VILLAGE ELECTION THAT IS BEING HELD FOR THE SOLE
PURPOSE OF A BALLOT PROPOSAL OR PROPOSALS. IN SUCH ELECTIONS, THE BOARD
OF ELECTIONS SHALL APPOINT WATCHERS IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES EQUITABLE
REPRESENTATION OF ORGANIZATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ADVOCATING THE
PASSAGE OR DEFEAT OF THE BALLOT PROPOSAL OR PROPOSALS.
3. The appointment of watchers for any election shall be by a certif-
icate in writing issued by the chairman or secretary of the political
party or independent body, [or] the candidates OR THE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS. 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.
LBD01796-01-5
S. 3290 2
S 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.