Senate Bill S10563

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10563
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 22, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- 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  providing  notice
   regarding  the  timeliness of the receipt by the board of elections of
   ballots capable of return by mail
 
   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 7-127
 to read as follows:
   § 7-127. NOTIFICATION TO  ACCOMPANY  ALL  EARLY  MAIL,  ABSENTEE,  AND
 SPECIAL  BALLOTS CAPABLE OF RETURN BY MAIL. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY BALLOT  ISSUED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
 CHAPTER THAT IS PERMITTED TO BE RETURNED BY MAIL SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY
 A CONSPICUOUS WRITTEN NOTICE, IN A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS,  INFORMING  THE VOTER OF ALL THE METHODS BY WHICH SUCH BALLOT
 MAY BE TIMELY RETURNED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING,  AS  APPLICABLE,
 RETURN  BY  MAIL,  EXPRESS  DELIVERY  SERVICES, DELIVERY BY THE VOTER OR
 AGENT TO THE APPROPRIATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, OR APPROPRIATE EARLY VOTING
 SITE OR POLL SITE ON ELECTION DAY, AND DEPOSIT  IN  A  BALLOT  DROP  BOX
 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8-416 OF THIS CHAPTER.
   2.  SUCH NOTICE SHALL ADVISE THE VOTER THAT, TO ENSURE TIMELY RECEIPT,
 SUCH BALLOT SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  AS  SOON  AS
 POSSIBLE  BY  ANY  APPROVED  METHODS,  AND  FURTHER RECOMMEND THE USE OF
 ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF RETURN BESIDES  DOMESTIC  MAIL  SERVICES  IF  THE
 VOTER  WILL  BE  RETURNING  THEIR  BALLOT  WITHIN  SEVERAL  DAYS  OF THE
 ELECTION.  THE NOTICE SHALL ALSO INCLUDE A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
 SEEKING A HAND CANCELLATION DATE FOR ANY  BALLOT  RETURNED  BY  DOMESTIC
 POSTAL  MAIL TO ENSURE THE DATE OF MAILING CAN ALWAYS BE DETERMINED. FOR
 OVERSEAS VOTERS, SUCH NOTICE SHALL ADVISE VOTERS TO CONSULT  THE  ANTIC-
 IPATED DELIVERY TIMES OF THEIR CHOSEN DELIVERY SERVICE TO ENSURE BALLOTS
 WILL BE RETURNED TIMELY. SUCH NOTICE SHALL INCLUDE THE WEBSITE AND TELE-
 PHONE  NUMBER OF THE APPROPRIATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR THE LOCATION AND
 HOURS OF OPERATION OF BALLOT DROP-OFF LOCATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  ABOUT
 OTHER RETURN OPTIONS. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, EACH COUNTY BOARD OF
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15902-04-6
 S. 10563                            2
 
 ELECTIONS,  AND  THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SHALL PROMINENTLY
 PUBLISH SUCH NOTICE, OR A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR NOTICE, IN A CONSPICUOUS
 LOCATION ON ITS OFFICIAL WEBSITE, AND SHALL ALSO TRANSMIT  SUCH  NOTICE,
 OR  A  SUBSTANTIALLY  SIMILAR  NOTICE, TO ANY ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESS OR
 TELEPHONE NUMBER MAINTAINED BY SUCH BOARD WITH RESPECT TO ANY VOTER  WHO
 HAS  REQUESTED  AN  EARLY MAIL BALLOT, AND POST THE SAME ON ANY OFFICIAL
 SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY SUCH BOARD.
   3. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PROMULGATE ANY RULES  AND  REGU-
 LATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.