BILL NUMBER:  S1063

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the election law, in relation to
prohibiting election commissioners from being chairs of political
parties

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

The purpose of this legislation is to prohibit election commissioners
from being chairs of political parties.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 3-200 of the of the Election Law
is amended as follows: 4. No person shall be appointed as election
commissioner or continue to hold office who is not a registered voter
in the county and not an enrolled member of the party recommending his
or her appointment, or who is the chair of a political organization in
such county or who holds any other public office, except that of
commissioner of deeds, notary public, village officer, city or town
justice, member of a community board within the city of New York or
trustee or officer of a school district outside of a city.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

Political organization chairs and election commissioners wield power
and influence over political candidates and elected officials since
they are indispensable to them in every stage of the electoral
process. The extent and depth of the interrelationships amongst all
are substantial, having implications for the integrity, transparency
and accountability of our election system.

The state election system is set up in which the county boards of
elections administer the balloting and voting process, an intricate
and complicated one. They are responsible for the minutia which can
cost a candidate a party line on the ballot or a close election.

County boards are relatively free to operate with minimal interference
from other governmental entities. County boards of elections are
accountable to the: county political parties to whom they report (who
nominate the commissioners); county legislature who ratifies the
commissioners, sets commissioner salaries and establishes the board of
elections budget; and the state board of elections in matters where
the state board has jurisdiction.

Many election commissioners occupy simultaneous positions as chairs of
political parties and organizations. In having both positions, then,
they are instrumental in the recruitment of candidates, putting those
candidates on the ballot and certifying election results. These
circumstances can give rise to conflicts of interest, or the
appearance of them, exacerbating the public distrust of government and
elections.

This legislation would ensure that such conflicts of interest would
not arise, safeguarding the foundation of our democracy, our electoral
system.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S5266/A7000

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

There are no fiscal implications associated with this legislation.
 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.