NY State Senate Bill S6754A

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (9)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 09, 2020	referred to election law delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.3 reported and committed to rules
Jan 08, 2020	referred to elections
Dec 30, 2019	print number 6754a
Dec 30, 2019	amend and recommit to rules
Sep 30, 2019	referred to rules

Votes

view votes

Jan 9, 2020 - floor Vote

S6754A

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jan 9, 2020 - Elections committee Vote

S6754A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

show Elections committee vote details

Elections Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

aye (5)

nay (2)

Jan 9, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

S6754A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jan 8, 2020 - floor Vote

S6754A

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

S6754 - Details

Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §8-600, El L

S6754 - Summary

Requires municipalities with the highest population in each county to have at least one polling place designated for early voting.

S6754 - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S6754

SPONSOR: BRESLIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the election law, in relation to
requiring municipalities with the highest population in each county to
have at least one polling place designated for early voting

 
PURPOSE:

This bill amends previously enacted early voting provisions to provide
that, in each county, the largest municipality by population must
contain at least one early voting polling location.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends § 8-600 of the Election Law to provide that the muni-
cipality with the highest population in each county must have at least
one polling place designated for early voting, and that if such munici-
pality has public transportation routes, that polling place must be
located along such routes.

Section 2: Effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

Currently, the board of elections in each county must designate early
voting locations. There must be at least one early voting location for
every full increment of 50,000 voters in each county, with a maximum
required number of locations in each county set at seven. Polling places
for early voting should be located so that voters in the county have
adequate and equitable access, taking into consideration population
density, travel time to the polling place, proximity to other early
voting poll sites, public transportation routes, commuter traffic
patterns, and other such factors the board of elections deems appropri-
ate.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2019, New York state lawmakers took historic steps in approving a
series of reforms intended to make New York's voting process easier,
more efficient, more transparent, and more accountable to its citizens.
Among these reforms were the scheduling of state and federal primaries
on the same day, automatic updating of voters' registrations when they
move, preregistration of those ages 16 and 17 prior to an election in
which they will be eligible to vote, and requirements that established
10 days of early voting which includes two full weekends prior to
elections.

With regard to early voting, the intent of the legislature was to
provide a flexible timeline within which voters can cast their ballots,
taking into account the reality that voters often have busy schedules,
vacations, and family obligations that can get in the way of voting on
election day. Early voting provides flexibility and a longer voting
process that encourages civic involvement by New York's citizens.

Key components of ensuring the success and accessibility of early voting
are the location and number of polling sites. The original legislation,
passed in 2019, set a minimum threshold for the number of polling
locations, with one polling location required for each 50,000 voters.
The legislature was also careful to include provisions stating that when
siting polling locations, boards of elections should take into account
population density, travel time, and public transportation routes. These
provisions recognize that inaccessibility to early voting polling
locations will severely undermine the entire utility of the program for
New York's voters.

It has come to the attention of the sponsor that in at least one county
in the state, the intent of these provisions has been disregarded, with
polling locations being sited outside the county's largest municipality
and urban center. The sites of the polling locations do not lend
adequate and equitable access to the polls for the county's urban
voters, as they are located a significant distance outside the county's
largest city. Many urban voters, due to population density, utilize
public transportation and will not have adequate and equitable access to
the polling locations established in such county; these voters are
effectively being disenfranchised from New York's early voting system.

In every county across the state, urban locations and cities should be
equally represented and given the opportunity to express their voting
preferences. This bill seeks to remedy this shortfall in the original
legislation by clarifying that, in each county, at least one polling
place must be located in the largest municipality of that county. In
addition, if such municipality has public transportation lines, the
polling location must be along such public transportation lines, to
ensure that users of public transportation have equal access to the
polling location. This legislation will ultimately ensure that the most
populated city in each county is provided with early voting, thus
preventing disenfranchisement, whether unintentional or deliberate, of
urban voters and users of public transportation.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

There is no cost to the state.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None; this bill will not alter the number of required polling locations,
rather it further clarifies where such polling places should be located.

S6754 - Bill Text download pdf


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

                                  6754

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                           September 30, 2019
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the election  law,  in  relation  to  requiring  munici-
  palities  with  the highest population in each county to have at least
  one polling place designated for early voting

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

  Section  1.  Paragraph  (a)  of  subdivision 2 of section 8-600 of the
election law, as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2019, is  amended  to
read as follows:
  (a)  The  board  of elections shall designate polling places for early
voting, which may include the offices of the  board  of  elections,  for
persons  to  vote  early pursuant to this title; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
THE MUNICIPALITY WITH THE HIGHEST POPULATION IN EACH COUNTY  SHALL  HAVE
AT  LEAST  ONE  POLLING  PLACE  DESIGNATED FOR EARLY VOTING, AND IF SUCH
MUNICIPALITY HAS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES, SUCH POLLING PLACE  SHALL
BE  SITUATED  ALONG SUCH TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. There shall be so desig-
nated at least one early voting polling place for every  full  increment
of  fifty  thousand registered voters in each county; provided, however,
the number of early voting polling places  in  a  county  shall  not  be
required  to  be  greater than seven, and a county with fewer than fifty
thousand voters shall have at least one early voting polling place.
  § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law.



 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD13799-01-9

Co-Sponsors

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §8-600, El L

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires municipalities with the highest population in each county to have at least one polling place designated for early voting.

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S6754A

SPONSOR: BRESLIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to requiring munici-
palities with the highest population in each county to have at least one
polling place designated for early voting

 
PURPOSE:

This bill amends previously enacted early voting provisions to provide
that, in each county, the largest municipality by population must
contain at least one early voting polling location.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends § 8-600 of the Election Law to provide that the muni-
cipality with the highest population in each county based on the latest
federal decennial census shall have at least one polling place desig-
nated for early voting, and to the extent practicable if such munici-
pality has public transportation routes, such polling place shall be

situated along such transportation routes.

Section 2: Effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

Currently, the board of elections in each county must designate early
voting locations. There must be at least one early voting location for
every full increment of 50,000 voters in each county, with a maximum
required number of locations in each county set at seven.  Polling plac-
es for early voting should be located so that voters in the county have
adequate and equitable access, taking into consideration population
density, travel time to the polling place, proximity to other early
voting poll sites, public transportation routes, commuter traffic
patterns, and other such factors the board of elections deems appropri-
ate.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2019, New York state lawmakers took historic steps in approving a
series of reforms intended to make New York's voting process easier,
more efficient, more transparent, and more accountable to its citizens.
Among these reforms were the scheduling of state and federal primaries
on the same day, automatic updating of voters' registrations when they
move, preregistration of those ages 16 and 17 prior to an election in
which they will be eligible to vote, and requirements that established
10 days of early voting which includes two full weekends prior to
elections.

With regard to early voting, the intent of the legislature was to
provide a flexible timeline within which voters can cast their ballots,
taking into account the reality that voters often have busy schedules,
vacations, and family obligations that can get in the way of voting on
election day. Early voting provides flexibility and a longer voting
process that encourages civic involvement by New York's citizens.


Key components of ensuring the success and accessibility of early voting
are the location and number of polling sites. The original legislation,
passed in 2019, set a minimum threshold for the number of polling
locations, with one polling location required for each 50,000 voters.
The legislature was also careful to include provisions stating that when
siting polling locations, boards of elections should take into account
population density, travel time, and public transportation routes. These
provisions recognize that inaccessibility to early voting polling
locations will severely undermine the entire utility of the program for
New York's voters.

It has come to the attention of the sponsor that in at least one county
in the state, the intent of these provisions has been disregarded, with
polling locations being sited outside the county's largest municipality
and urban center. The sites of the polling locations do not lend
adequate and equitable access to the polls for the county's urban
voters, as they are located a significant distance outside the county's
largest city. Many urban voters, due to population density, utilize
public transportation and will not have adequate and equitable access to
the polling locations established in such county; these voters are
effectively being disenfranchised from New York's early voting system.

In every county across the state, urban locations and cities should be
equally represented and given the opportunity to express their voting
preferences. This bill seeks to remedy this shortfall in the original
legislation by clarifying that, in each county, at least one polling
place must be located in the largest municipality of that county. In
addition, if such municipality has public transportation lines, the
polling location must be along such public transportation lines, to
ensure that users of public transportation have equal access to the
polling location. This legislation will ultimately ensure that the most
populated city in each county is provided with early voting, thus
preventing disenfranchisement, whether unintentional or deliberate, of
urban voters and users of public transportation.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

There is no cost to the state.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None; this bill will not alter the number of required polling locations,
rather it further clarifies where such polling places should be located.

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 6754--A

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                           September 30, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be  committed  to  the  Committee  on  Rules  --  committee
  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
  to said committee

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election  law, in relation to requiring munici-
  palities with the highest population in each county to have  at  least
  one polling place designated for early voting

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

  Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2  of  section  8-600  of  the
election  law,  as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2019, is amended to
read as follows:
  (a) The board of elections shall designate polling  places  for  early
voting,  which  may  include  the offices of the board of elections, for
persons to vote early pursuant to this title;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT
THE MUNICIPALITY WITH THE HIGHEST POPULATION IN EACH COUNTY BASED ON THE
LATEST  FEDERAL  DECENNIAL  CENSUS SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE POLLING PLACE
DESIGNATED FOR EARLY VOTING, AND TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE IF SUCH MUNI-
CIPALITY HAS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES, SUCH POLLING PLACE  SHALL  BE
SITUATED  ALONG SUCH TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. There shall be so designated
at least one early voting polling place  for  every  full  increment  of
fifty  thousand registered voters in each county; provided, however, the
number of early voting polling places in a county shall not be  required
to be greater than [seven] TEN UNLESS REQUIRED BY ANY OTHER PROVISION OF
LAW,  and  a  county with fewer than fifty thousand voters shall have at
least one early voting polling place.
  § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law.


 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD13799-02-9

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S6754A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jan 9, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Elections committee Vote

Elections Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 8, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 8, 2020

Bill Amendments

S6754 - Details

S6754 - Summary

S6754 - Sponsor Memo

S6754 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Details

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S6754A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Neil D. Breslin

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jan 9, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Elections committee Vote

Elections Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 8, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 8, 2020

Bill Amendments

S6754 - Details

S6754 - Summary

S6754 - Sponsor Memo

S6754 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

Alessandra Biaggi

James Gaughran

Anna M. Kaplan

Roxanne J. Persaud

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Details

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6754A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments