NY State Senate Bill S4306B

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

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

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Actions

view actions (16)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Dec 22, 2021	signed chap.781
Dec 10, 2021	delivered to governor
Jun 10, 2021	returned to senate passed assembly ordered to third reading rules cal.709 substituted for a5424a referred to ways and means delivered to assembly passed senate
Jun 08, 2021	ordered to third reading cal.1684 committee discharged and committed to rules
Jun 07, 2021	print number 4306b
Jun 07, 2021	amend (t) and recommit to elections
May 07, 2021	print number 4306a
May 07, 2021	amend (t) and recommit to elections
Feb 03, 2021	referred to elections

Votes

Bill Amendments

Original

B (Active)

Original

B (Active)

Co-Sponsors

S4306 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5424
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §8-600, El L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S9076

S4306 - Summary

Enacts the "Make Voting Easy Act"; requires the board of elections to designate a number of early voting polling places based on the number of registered voters in each county; relates to the hours polls are open for early voting.

S4306 - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S4306

SPONSOR: GIANARIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the "Make
Voting Easy Act" to require that the board of elections designate at
least one early voting polling place for every full increment of twen-
ty-five thousand registered voters in each county

 
PURPOSE:

To require the board of elections to designate at least one early voting
polling place for every full increment of twenty-five thousand regis-
tered voters in each county.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one is the title.

Section two of the bill amends the election law by amending subdivision

2 of section 8-600 to require that the Board of Elections establish at
least one early voting polling place per 25,000 registered voters with
no maximum number of polling places.

Section three of the bill amends paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of
section 8600 of the election law to increase the number of hours early
voting polls must be open on weekends and legal holidays from five hours
to eight hours, and requires that early voting polls on those days must
be open between nine o'clock in the morning and eight o'clock in the
evening.

Section three sets the effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

 
JUSTIFICATION:

After we succeeded in establishing Early Voting in 2019, long lines and
extraordinarily long wait times for early voters in the 2020 Presiden-
tial election demonstrated that the process must be improved.  The
lengthy wait times were the result of too few polling places for the
number of registered voters and limited hours. Reducing overcrowding and
long lines at the polls is especially important in the midst of the
COVID-19 pandemic, though a fast and easy early voting experience should
be the standard for any election. Under this proposal, a majority of
counties would see an increase in the number of polling locations, and
an increase in the number of early voting poll hours on weekends and
legal holidays. Increasing the minimum number of poll sites and hours on
weekends will better facilitate Early Voting across New York State.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: Died in Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Click here

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately and shall apply to any general, primary, run-off primary, or
special election held thereafter.

S4306 - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4306
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 3, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  GIANARIS,  BROOKS, HOYLMAN, JACKSON, KAPLAN, MAY,
   SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, THOMAS -- read twice and ordered printed, and  when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election law, in relation to enacting the "Make
   Voting Easy Act" to require that the board of elections  designate  at
   least one early voting polling place for every full increment of twen-
   ty-five thousand registered voters in each county
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "Make Voting Easy Act".
   §  2.  Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 8-600 of the election
 law, as amended by chapter 344 of the laws of 2020, 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] TWENTY-FIVE 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 ten unless required by any other
 provision of law, and] a county  with  fewer  than  [fifty]  TWENTY-FIVE
 thousand voters shall have at least one early voting polling place.
   §  3.  Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 8-600 of the election
 law, as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2019, is amended  to  read  as
 follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD03251-03-1

 S. 4306                             2
 
   (c)  Polls  shall  be  open for early voting for at least [five] EIGHT
 hours between nine o'clock in the morning and [six] EIGHT o'clock in the
 evening on each Saturday, Sunday and  legal  holiday  during  the  early
 voting period.
   §  4.  This  act  shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any
 general, primary, run-off primary, or special election held thereafter.

Co-Sponsors

view additional co-sponsors

S4306A - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5424
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §8-600, El L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S9076

S4306A - Summary

S4306A - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S4306A

SPONSOR: GIANARIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the "Make
Voting Easy Act" to require that the board of elections designate at
least one early voting polling place for every full increment of thir-
ty-five thousand registered voters in each county and to expand polling
site hours of operation during early voting

 
PURPOSE:

To require the board of elections to designate at least one early voting
polling place for every full increment of thirty-five thousand regis-
tered voters in each county, and to extend voting polling site hours of
operation during early voting.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one is the title.

Section two of the bill amends the election law by amending subdivision
2 of section 8-600 to require that the Board of Elections establish at
least one early voting polling place per 35,000 registered voters with
no maximum number of polling places.

Section three of the bill amends paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subdi-
vision 4 of section 8-600 of the election law. Paragraph (a) is amended
to read that early voting polls must be open at least eight hours per
weekday between 7AM and 9PM. Paragraph (b) is amended to read that at
least one early voting polling place must be open until 9PM on at least
3 weekdays in a calendar week. If polling places for early voting are
limited to voters from certain areas pursuant to subdivision three of
this section, polling places that remain open until 9PM shall be desig-
nated such that any person entitled to early vote may vote until 9PM at
least 3 weekdays during early voting.  Paragraph (c) is amended to
increase the number of hours early voting polls must be open on weekends
and legal holidays from five hours to ten hours on those days, and that
polls must be open for those ten hours between 9AM and 9PM.

Section three sets the effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

 
JUSTIFICATION:

After we succeeded in establishing Early Voting in 2019, long lines and
extraordinarily long wait times for early voters in the 2020 Presiden-
tial election demonstrated that the process must be improved.  The
lengthy wait times were the result of too few polling places for the
number of registered voters and limited hours. Reducing overcrowding and
long lines at the polls is especially important in the midst of the
COVID-19 pandemic, though a fast and easy early voting experience should
be the standard for any election. Under this proposal, a majority of
counties would see an increase in the number of polling locations, and
an increase in the number of early voting poll hours. Increasing the
minimum number of poll sites and hours will better facilitate Early
Voting across New York State.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: Died in Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately and shall apply to any general, primary, run-off primary, or
special election held thereafter.

S4306A - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4306--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 3, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  GIANARIS,  BROOKS, HOYLMAN, JACKSON, KAPLAN, MAY,
   SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, THOMAS -- read twice and ordered printed, and  when
   printed  to  be  committed  to the Committee on Elections -- committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the election law, in  relation  to  enacting  the  "Make
   Voting  Easy  Act" to require that the board of elections designate at
   least one early voting polling place for every full increment of thir-
   ty-five thousand registered voters in each county and to expand  poll-
   ing site hours of operation during early voting
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "Make Voting Easy Act".
   §  2.  Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 8-600 of the election
 law, as amended by chapter 74 of the laws of 2021, 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, or the county seat in Washington coun-
 ty, shall have at least one polling place designated for  early  voting,
 and  to the extent practicable if such municipality has public transpor-
 tation routes, such polling place shall be situated along such transpor-
 tation routes. There shall be so designated at least  one  early  voting
 polling  place  for every full increment of [fifty] THIRTY-FIVE 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 ten unless required by any other provision of law,  and]  a

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03251-04-1

 S. 4306--A                          2
 
 county with fewer than [fifty] THIRTY-FIVE thousand voters shall have at
 least one early voting polling place.
   §  3. Paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subdivision 4 of section 8-600 of
 the election law, as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2019, are amended
 to read as follows:
   (a) Polls shall be open for early voting  for  at  least  eight  hours
 between  seven  o'clock  in  the morning and [eight] NINE o'clock in the
 evening each week day during the early voting period.
   (b) At least one polling place for  early  voting  shall  remain  open
 until  [eight]  NINE o'clock in the evening on at least [two] THREE week
 days in each calendar week during the early voting  period.  If  polling
 places  for early voting are limited to voters from certain areas pursu-
 ant to subdivision three of this section,  polling  places  that  remain
 open until [eight] NINE o'clock shall be designated such that any person
 entitled  to vote early may vote until [eight] NINE o'clock in the even-
 ing on at least [two] THREE week days during the early voting period.
   (c) Polls shall be open for early voting for at least [five] TEN hours
 between nine o'clock in the morning and [six] NINE o'clock in the  even-
 ing  on  each Saturday, Sunday and legal holiday during the early voting
 period.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and  shall  apply  to  any
 general,  primary,  run-off primary, or special election held on January
 1, 2022 and thereafter.

Co-Sponsors

view additional co-sponsors

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5424
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §8-600, El L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S9076

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Summary

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S4306B

SPONSOR: GIANARIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the "Make
Voting Easy Act" to require that the board of elections designate a
number of early voting polling places based on the number of registered
voters in each county

 
PURPOSE:

To require the board of elections to designate at least one early voting
polling place for every full increment of forty thousand registered
voters in each county with at least five hundred thousand registered
voters, and for every full increment of thirty thousand registered
voters in each county with less than five hundred thousand registered
voters, and to extend voting polling site hours of operation during
early voting.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill contains the short title.

Section two amends subdivision 2 of Election Law § 8-600 to require that
the largest city in a county or, if there is no city in the county, the
largest municipality in the county, shall have at least one early voting
poll site in the city or municipality.

Section two also requires that each county with at least five hundred
thousand registered voters must have at least one early voting poll site
per 40,000 registered voters with no maximum number of polling places;
and that each county with under five hundred thousand registered voters
must have at least one early voting poll site per 30,000 registered
voters with a cap of 10 poll sites required in such counties with less
than five hundred thousand registered voters.

Section three amends paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of Election Law §
8-600 to increase the number of hours early voting polls must be open on
weekends and legal holidays from five hours to eight hours on those
days, and that polls must be open for those eight hours between 9AM and
8PM.

Section four sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

After we succeeded in establishing early voting in 2019, long lines and
extraordinarily long wait times for early voters in the 2020 Presiden-
tial election demonstrated that the process must be improved.  The
lengthy wait times were the result of too few polling places for the
number of registered voters and the limited hours. Reducing overcrowding
and long lines at the polls is especially important during the COVID-19
pandemic, though a fast and easy early voting experience should be the
standard for any election. Under this proposal, most counties would see
an increase in the number of polling locations, and an increase in the
number of early voting poll hours. Increasing the minimum number of poll
sites and hours will better facilitate early voting across New York
State.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined during the adoption of the budget for fiscal year
2022-2023 when this bill takes effect.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 1, 2022 and shall apply to any general,
primary, run-off primary, or special election held thereafter.

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4306--B
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 3, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. GIANARIS, BROOKS, HOYLMAN, JACKSON, KAPLAN, MANNION,
   MAY,  SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, THOMAS -- read twice and ordered printed, and
   when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections --  commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to  said  committee  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election law, in relation to enacting the "Make
   Voting Easy Act" to require that the board of  elections  designate  a
   number  of  early  voting polling places based on the number of regis-
   tered voters in each county
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "Make Voting Easy Act".
   §  2.  Subdivision 2 of section 8-600 of the election law, as added by
 chapter 6 of the laws of 2019, paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 74 of
 the laws of 2021, paragraph (b) as added and paragraphs  (c),  (d),  and
 (e) as relettered by chapter 110 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read
 as follows:
   2. (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].
   (B)  THE  LARGEST  CITY  IN  THE COUNTY OR, IF THERE IS NO CITY IN THE
 COUNTY, THE municipality with the  highest  population  in  each  county
 based  on  the  latest  federal  decennial census, or the county seat in
 Washington county, shall have at least one polling place designated  for
 early voting, and to the extent practicable if such CITY OR municipality
 has  public  transportation routes, such polling place shall be situated
 along such transportation routes. [There]
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03251-13-1

 S. 4306--B                          2
 
   (C) IN COUNTIES WITH AT LEAST FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND REGISTERED VOTERS,
 THERE shall be so designated at least one early voting polling place for
 every full increment of [fifty] FORTY  thousand  registered  voters  [in
 each county; provided, however,].
   (D)  IN ALL OTHER COUNTIES WITH LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND REGIS-
 TERED VOTERS, THERE SHALL BE SO DESIGNATED AT  LEAST  ONE  EARLY  VOTING
 POLLING  PLACE  FOR  EVERY  FULL INCREMENT OF THIRTY THOUSAND REGISTERED
 VOTERS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the number of early voting polling places  in
 [a  county]  COUNTIES  WITH  LESS  THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND REGISTERED
 VOTERS shall not be required to be greater than 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] NOR LESS THAN
 ONE.
   [(b)] (E) For any special, primary  or  run-off  primary  election  at
 which  no  voters of the municipality with the highest population within
 the county are eligible to vote, the board of elections may, in lieu  of
 having  an  early voting polling place in such municipality, designate a
 polling place for early voting in  the  municipality  with  the  highest
 population  within  the  county  within which the voters are eligible to
 vote at such special, primary, or run-off primary election.
   [(c)] (F) The board of elections of each county or  the  city  of  New
 York  may establish additional polling places for early voting in excess
 of the minimum number required by this subdivision for  the  convenience
 of eligible voters.
   [(d)]  (G)  Notwithstanding  the  minimum  number of early voting poll
 sites otherwise required by this subdivision, for any primary or special
 election, upon majority vote of the board of elections,  the  number  of
 early voting sites may be reduced when the board of elections determines
 a  lesser  number  of  sites  is  sufficient  to meet the needs of early
 voters.
   [(e)] (H) Polling places for early voting shall  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 such other factors  the  board  of
 elections  deems  appropriate.  The  provisions of section 4-104 of this
 chapter, except subdivisions four and five of such section, shall  apply
 to  the  designation  of  polling  places for early voting except to the
 extent such provisions are inconsistent with this section.
   § 3. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 8-600 of  the  election
 law,  as  added  by chapter 6 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (c) Polls shall be open for early voting for  at  least  [five]  EIGHT
 hours between nine o'clock in the morning and [six] EIGHT o'clock in the
 evening  on  each  Saturday,  Sunday  and legal holiday during the early
 voting period.
   § 4. This act shall take effect April 1, 2022 and shall apply  to  any
 general, primary, run-off primary, or special election held thereafter.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S4306B

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jun 10, 2021 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 10, 2021

Jun 8, 2021 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 8, 2021

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S4306 - Details

S4306 - Summary

S4306 - Sponsor Memo

S4306 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S4306A - Details

S4306A - Summary

S4306A - Sponsor Memo

S4306A - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Details

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Summary

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S4306B

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jun 10, 2021 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 10, 2021

Jun 8, 2021 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 8, 2021

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S4306 - Details

S4306 - Summary

S4306 - Sponsor Memo

S4306 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S4306A - Details

S4306A - Summary

S4306A - Sponsor Memo

S4306A - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Details

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Summary

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S4306B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments