S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7561
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 13, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JACOBSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to prohibiting conflicts
of interest among board of elections employees
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 3-304
to read as follows:
§ 3-304. BOARD EMPLOYEES; CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. 1. NO BOARD OF
ELECTIONS EMPLOYEE SHALL ENGAGE IN OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY TRADE OR BUSI-
NESS WHICH CREATES, OR MAY TEND TO CREATE, AN ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL
CONFLICT OF INTEREST. NO BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEE SHALL MAINTAIN A
FINANCIAL INTEREST, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN A COMPANY PROVIDING
SERVICES TO A CANDIDATE WHO HAS AN ELECTION OVERSEEN BY SUCH EMPLOYEE'S
OFFICE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PRINTING COMPANIES, ELECTION
CONSULTING COMPANIES, DIRECT MAIL COMPANIES AND DIGITAL MARKETING COMPA-
NIES. NO BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEE SHALL MAINTAIN A FINANCIAL INTER-
EST, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR BE EMPLOYED BY A VENDOR OR COMPANY
THAT SELLS VOTING MACHINES, ELECTRONIC POLLBOOKS, PRINTERS OR OTHER
TECHNICAL OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. A VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE CAUSE FOR DISCIPLINE BY THE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS, INCLUDING REMOVAL OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEE.
2. NO BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEE SHALL REMAIN ON THE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS PAYROLL WHILE ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR AN OFFICE WHO HAS AN
ELECTION OVERSEEN BY THE BOARD AT WHICH THEY ARE EMPLOYED. FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, A BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEE SHALL BE DEEMED
A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE UPON THE FILING OF DESIGNATING PETITIONS
FOR SUCH OFFICE OR, WHERE NOMINATIONS FOR SUCH OFFICE ARE MADE OTHER
THAN BY PETITION, UPON ACCEPTANCE OF A NOMINATION. SUCH EMPLOYEE MAY
REMAIN IN "LEAVE WITHOUT PAY" STATUS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS HIS OR HER
CANDIDACY SHALL CEASE, OR UPON THE DAY FOLLOWING THE CERTIFICATION OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02370-07-1
A. 7561 2
ELECTION RESULTS FOR SUCH OFFICE, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. NOTWITHSTANDING
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, WHEN THERE ARE NO PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR
THE OFFICE BEING SOUGHT BY A CANDIDATE THAT IS EMPLOYED BY THE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS, THAT CANDIDATE MAY REMAIN ON THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS PAYROLL
FOR NO MORE THAN NINETY DAYS PRIOR TO A GENERAL ELECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that subdivision
1 of section 3-304 of the election law, as added by section one of this
act, shall take effect one year after this act shall have become a law.