Assembly Bill A5744A

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Establishes an instant runoff voting method for certain local elections; provides for repeal of such provisions

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly 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

multi-Sponsors

2015-A5744 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S2741
Current Committee:
Assembly Election Law
Law Section:
Election Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 18 §§18-100 - 18-110, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: A3281
2011-2012: A6398
2013-2014: A2109, S3250
2017-2018: A8613, S5616
2019-2020: A8073, S2717
2021-2022: A5085, S491
2023-2024: A8830

2015-A5744 - Summary

Establishes an instant runoff voting method for certain local elections for races with three or more candidates; insures majority support for elected officers; provides for repeal of such provisions.

2015-A5744 - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  5744

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              March 4, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. KAVANAGH, LUPARDO, THIELE, LIFTON -- Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M. of A.  RIVERA -- read once and referred to the  Commit-
  tee on Election Law

AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to establishing an instant
  runoff voting method for certain local 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 that 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 that 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 insures that the elected candidate
has true majority support. In addition, the instant runoff voting method

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00122-01-5
              

co-Sponsors

multi-Sponsors

2015-A5744A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S2741
Current Committee:
Assembly Election Law
Law Section:
Election Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 18 §§18-100 - 18-110, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: A3281
2011-2012: A6398
2013-2014: A2109, S3250
2017-2018: A8613, S5616
2019-2020: A8073, S2717
2021-2022: A5085, S491
2023-2024: A8830

2015-A5744A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes an instant runoff voting method for certain local elections for races with three or more candidates; insures majority support for elected officers; provides for repeal of such provisions.

2015-A5744A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 5744--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              March 4, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. KAVANAGH, LUPARDO, THIELE, LIFTON -- Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M.  of A. RIVERA -- read once and referred to the  Commit-
  tee on Election Law -- recommitted to the Committee on Election Law in
  accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
  amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
  tee

AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to establishing an instant
  runoff voting method for certain local 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 that 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 that 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

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00122-03-6
              

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