The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    623
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. CARROLL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Election Law
 
 AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to authorizing and direct-
   ing the state board of  elections  to  create  an  online  petitioning
   system for designating petitions

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 6-136-a
 to read as follows:
   § 6-136-A. ONLINE PETITIONING SYSTEM  FOR  DESIGNATING  PETITIONS.  1.
 NOTWITHSTANDING   ANY  OTHER  PROVISION  OF  LAW,  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS, IN COOPERATION WITH COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTION, IS  AUTHORIZED
 AND  DIRECTED  TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM FOR QUALIFIED VOTERS TO SIGN A DESIG-
 NATING PETITION FOR A CANDIDATE BY WAY OF A SECURE INTERNET PORTAL. SUCH
 SYSTEM SHALL:
   (A) PROVIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF DESIGNATING PETITIONS FOR CANDIDATES
 FOR THE FOLLOWING OFFICES:
   (I) UNITED STATES SENATE;
   (II) UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;
   (III) NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR;
   (IV) NEW YORK STATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR;
   (V) NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER;
   (VI) NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL;
   (VII) NEW YORK STATE SENATE;
   (VIII) NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY;
   (IX) COUNTY OFFICES;
   (X) TOWN OFFICES;
   (XI) CITY OFFICES;
   (XII) VILLAGE OFFICES; AND
   (XIII) SCHOOL BOARDS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04776-01-1

 A. 623                              2

   (B) BE INTEGRATED WITH COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS;
   (C)  PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF SIGNED DESIGNATING PETITIONS OR A
 FACSIMILE OF SUCH PETITIONS TO THE  APPROPRIATE  OFFICER  IN  CHARGE  OF
 ELECTIONS FOR A PARTICULAR ELECTED OFFICE;
   (D) ALLOW ONLY THOSE QUALIFIED VOTERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO SIGN A PETI-
 TION FOR A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE TO SIGN SUCH PETITION, INCLUDING PROVID-
 ING A METHOD FOR THE QUALIFIED VOTER'S IDENTITY TO BE PROPERLY VERIFIED;
 AND
   (E) PROVIDE THAT CANDIDATES MAY CHOOSE TO COLLECT DESIGNATING PETITION
 SIGNATURES  UP  TO AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE FULL NUMBER OF REQUIRED DESIG-
 NATING PETITION SIGNATURES BY USE OF THE ONLINE PETITION  SYSTEM  ESTAB-
 LISHED BY THIS SECTION.
   2. USE OF THE ONLINE PETITION SYSTEM ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION SHALL
 NOT PRECLUDE THE COLLECTION AND USE OF PAPER DESIGNATING PETITIONS.
   3.  THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND
 REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.