S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5388
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 16, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Election Law
AN ACT providing for virtual witnessing of designating and nominating
petitions; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expi-
ration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the election
law or governor's executive order issued prior to the effective date of
this act, the following provisions shall apply to all petitions for all
nominations and elections for state, county, town or village public
offices for public or party office to be filled at any election to be
held in the year 2021 whether conducted by the county's board of
elections or otherwise.
The relevant sections of the election law, in relation to designating
and nominating petitions, are modified to the extent that, for any
election for which petitions are required to be filed in the year 2021,
signatures to petitions may be witnessed virtually and shall be accepted
for filing provided that each petition page contains a Statement of
Virtual Witness substantially in the following form bearing the original
signature of the witness affixed to either (a) the original petition
bearing the original signature of the witness, or (b) a copy of the
original petition bearing the original signature of the signer which
copy was transmitted to the witness by electronic means.
STATEMENT OF VIRTUAL WITNESS
I, ____________________________state: I am a duly qualified voter of the
State of New York and am an enrolled voter of the
___________________Party.
I now reside at ________________________________________________.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09338-01-1
A. 5388 2
I observed via audio-video technology each of the individuals whose
names are subscribed to this petition sheet containing (fill in number)
_________ signatures subscribe the same on the dates above indicated.
The audio-video conference allowed for direct interaction between me and
the signer and was not a pre-recorded video of the documents being
signed. During the audio-video conference, the signer identified
himself/herself to be the individual who signed this sheet, exhibited
the signature on the petition to me and affirmatively stated that he/she
was physically located within the State of New York. I understand that
this statement will be accepted for all purposes as the equivalent of an
affidavit and, if it contains a material false statement, shall subject
me to the same penalties as if I had been duly sworn.
____________________________2021 ___________________________
Date Signature of Witness
WITNESS IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION: The following information for the
witness named above must be completed prior to filing with the board of
elections in order for this petition to be valid.
_____________________ _________________________
Town or City Where Witness Resides County Where Witness Resides
Sheet No.__
ยง 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire January
31, 2022, when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.