Assembly Bill A7972A

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters, and increases penalties for violations of the elective franchise

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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

2019-A7972 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S5758
Current Committee:
Assembly Election Law
Law Section:
Election Law
Laws Affected:
Add §§17-151 & 17-153, amd §17-166, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: A9250, S2554
2011-2012: A5915, S1009
2013-2014: A2627, S676
2015-2016: A5841, S2352
2017-2018: A3122, S2952
2021-2022: A9555, S1032
2023-2024: A8608, S263

2019-A7972 - Summary

Makes the suppression of voters a civil violation.

2019-A7972 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7972
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 29, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Election Law
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election  law,  in  relation to prohibiting the
   suppression of voters
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "deceptive
 practices and voter suppression prevention act".
   §  2.  The  election  law is amended by adding a new section 17-151 to
 read as follows:
   § 17-151. DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.   1. ANY PERSON,  POLITICAL  COMMITTEE,
 LABOR  ORGANIZATION,  CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY, WHETHER ACTING UNDER
 COLOR OF LAW OR OTHERWISE, WHO KNOWINGLY COMMUNICATES OR KNOWINGLY CAUS-
 ES TO BE COMMUNICATED DECEPTIVE INFORMATION, KNOWING SUCH INFORMATION TO
 BE FALSE AND, IN ACTING IN THE  MANNER  DESCRIBED,  PREVENTS  OR  DETERS
 ANOTHER  PERSON  FROM  EXERCISING  THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN ANY ELECTION, IS
 GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
   2. THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS  ARE  APPLICABLE  TO  THIS  SECTION:  (A)
 "DECEPTIVE INFORMATION" MEANS FALSE INFORMATION REGARDING: (I) THE TIME,
 PLACE,  OR  MANNER  OF  ANY  ELECTION;  (II)  THE  QUALIFICATIONS FOR OR
 RESTRICTIONS ON VOTER ELIGIBILITY FOR ANY ELECTION, INCLUDING ANY PENAL-
 TIES ASSOCIATED WITH VOTING  BY  INELIGIBLE  VOTERS;  (III)  INFORMATION
 REGARDING  A  VOTER'S  REGISTRATION  STATUS  OR ELIGIBILITY; OR (IV) THE
 POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION OF ANY CANDIDATE; AND
   (B) "ELECTION" AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO APPLY TO AND
 INCLUDE ALL ELECTIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE  OR  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK
 BOARDS  OF  ELECTIONS,  OR  ANY COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, INCLUDING ANY
 GENERAL, PRIMARY, RUN-OFF, OR SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ANY  STATE  OR  LOCAL
 OFFICE OR BALLOT PROPOSITION.
   3.  ANY  PERSON  AGGRIEVED  BY  A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
 SECTION MAY INSTITUTE A CIVIL ACTION  OR  OTHER  PROPER  PROCEEDING  FOR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

2019-A7972A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S5758
Current Committee:
Assembly Election Law
Law Section:
Election Law
Laws Affected:
Add §§17-151 & 17-153, amd §17-166, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: A9250, S2554
2011-2012: A5915, S1009
2013-2014: A2627, S676
2015-2016: A5841, S2352
2017-2018: A3122, S2952
2021-2022: A9555, S1032
2023-2024: A8608, S263

2019-A7972A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Makes the suppression of voters a civil violation.

2019-A7972A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7972--A
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 29, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on  Election  Law  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend  the  election  law,  in  relation  to  prohibiting  the
   suppression of voters

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "deceptive
 practices and voter suppression prevention act".
   § 2. The election law is amended by adding a  new  section  17-151  to
 read as follows:
   §  17-151.  DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.   1. ANY PERSON, POLITICAL COMMITTEE,
 LABOR ORGANIZATION, CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY, WHETHER  ACTING  UNDER
 COLOR OF LAW OR OTHERWISE, WHO KNOWINGLY COMMUNICATES OR KNOWINGLY CAUS-
 ES TO BE COMMUNICATED DECEPTIVE INFORMATION, KNOWING SUCH INFORMATION TO
 BE  FALSE  AND,  IN  ACTING  IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED, PREVENTS OR DETERS
 ANOTHER PERSON FROM EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO VOTE  IN  ANY  ELECTION,  IS
 GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
   2.  THE  FOLLOWING  DEFINITIONS  ARE  APPLICABLE  TO THIS SECTION: (A)
 "DECEPTIVE INFORMATION" MEANS FALSE INFORMATION REGARDING: (I) THE TIME,
 PLACE, OR MANNER  OF  ANY  ELECTION;  (II)  THE  QUALIFICATIONS  FOR  OR
 RESTRICTIONS ON VOTER ELIGIBILITY FOR ANY ELECTION, INCLUDING ANY PENAL-
 TIES  ASSOCIATED  WITH  VOTING  BY  INELIGIBLE VOTERS; (III) INFORMATION
 REGARDING A VOTER'S REGISTRATION STATUS  OR  ELIGIBILITY;  OR  (IV)  THE
 POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION OF ANY CANDIDATE; AND
   (B) "ELECTION" AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO APPLY TO AND
 INCLUDE  ALL  ELECTIONS  ADMINISTERED  BY  THE STATE OR CITY OF NEW YORK
 BOARDS OF ELECTIONS, OR ANY COUNTY BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,  INCLUDING  ANY
 GENERAL,  PRIMARY,  RUN-OFF,  OR SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ANY STATE OR LOCAL
 OFFICE OR BALLOT PROPOSITION.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05069-03-9
              

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