S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1355
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 9, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. RIVERA,
SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the procedure to fill
certain senate and assembly vacancies in a city with a population of
one million or more
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 6-116 of the election law, as amended by chapter
373 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
§ 6-116. Party nominations; election to fill a vacancy. 1. A party
nomination of a candidate for election to fill a vacancy in an elective
office required to be filled at the next general election, occurring
after seven days before the last day for circulating designating
petitions or after the holding of the meeting or convention to nominate
or designate candidates for such, shall be made, after the day of the
primary election, by a majority vote of a quorum of the state committee
if the vacancy occurs in an office to be filled by all voters of the
state, and otherwise by a majority vote of a quorum of the members of a
county committee or committees last elected in the political subdivision
in which such vacancy is to be filled, or by a majority of such other
committee as the rules of the party may provide. A certificate of nomi-
nation shall be filed as provided for [herein] IN THIS ARTICLE.
2. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION,
IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, A VACANCY IN THE
OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR OR IN THE OFFICE OF MEMBER OF ASSEMBLY OCCURRING
IN A DISTRICT CONSISTING OF PARTS OF MORE THAN ONE COUNTY AND REQUIRED
TO BE FILLED AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION SHALL BE FILLED BY POPULAR
ELECTION IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
(A) WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE OCCURRENCE OF SUCH A VACANCY, THE GOVER-
NOR SHALL MAKE PROCLAMATION OF A SPECIAL NON-PARTISAN ELECTION TO FILL
SUCH OFFICE, SPECIFYING THE DISTRICT AND/OR COUNTIES IN WHICH THE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02684-01-5
A. 1355 2
ELECTION IS TO BE HELD, AND THE DAY THEREOF, WHICH SHALL BE FORTY-FIVE
DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE PROCLAMATION.
(B) ALL NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES HELD PURSUANT TO
THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE BY INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITION, SUCH
PETITIONS TO BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE PERTAINING TO
INDEPENDENT NOMINATIONS EXCEPT AS IS OTHERWISE SET FORTH IN THIS SUBDI-
VISION. THE SHEETS OF THE INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITION SHALL SET
FORTH IN EVERY INSTANCE THE NAME OF THE SIGNER, THE SIGNER'S RESIDENCE
ADDRESS, THE COUNTY, AND THE DATE THE SIGNATURE IS FIXED. SUCH PETITION
SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CONTAIN A DESIGNATED NUMBER OF SIGNATURES WHICH
SHALL BE THE LESSER OF FIVE PERCENT OF VOTES CAST IN THE LAST PRECEDING
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION OR ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SIGNATURES PER PETI-
TION FOR THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR AND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY SIGNATURES
PER PETITION FOR THE OFFICE OF MEMBER OF ASSEMBLY. A SIGNATURE ON AN
INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITION MADE EARLIER THAN THE DATE OF THE PROC-
LAMATION REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE
COUNTED.
(C) ALL NOMINATING PETITIONS FILED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL
BE FILED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 6-144 OF THIS
ARTICLE WITHIN FIFTEEN DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMA-
TION AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
(D) A PERSON ELECTED TO FILL SUCH A VACANCY AT AN ELECTION HELD PURSU-
ANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL TAKE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY UPON QUALIFICATION
AND SERVE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE UNEXPIRED TERM.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.