NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4469A

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

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

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Actions

View Actions

Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 05, 2026	committed to rules
May 21, 2026	advanced to third reading
May 20, 2026	2nd report cal. amended 4469a
May 19, 2026	1st report cal.1175
Jan 07, 2026	referred to education
Feb 05, 2025	referred to education

Votes

- May 19, 2026 - Education Committee Vote
  S4469A
  
  Aye
  
  14
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  1
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  
  0
  - - Education Committee Vote: May 19, 2026
      
      aye (14)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Bynoe
      
      Chan
      
      Cleare
      
      Jackson
      
      Liu
      
      Martinez
      
      Mayer
      
      Salazar
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stec
      
      Sutton
      
      Weber
      
      Weik
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Tedisco

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S4469 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§2018-a & 2018-b, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S9521

2025-S4469 - Summary

Relates to absentee ballots for school district elections due to a religious commitment or following such applicant's religious teaching or tenet that forbids secular activity on that day.

2025-S4469 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4469

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to absentee ballots for
school district elections due to a religious commitment

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To allow voters to request an absentee ballot for a school election if
they will be unable to vote in person due to a religious commitment.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends paragraphs a and c section 2018-a of the education law,
to allow voters to request an absentee ballot for elections in school
districts which do not utilize poll registration if they cannot vote in
person due to a religious commitment.

Section 2 amends subdivision 2 of section 2018-b of the education law,
to allow voters to request an absentee ballot for elections in school

districts which do utilize poll registration if they cannot vote in
person due to a religious commitment.

Section 3 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Under current law, voters may only request an absentee ballot for school
elections in a limited number of circumstances: if they are out of town
on the day of the election, unable to appear in person due to an illness
or disability, or currently incarcerated in jail.  This legislation
would allow voters to request an absentee ballot when they cannot vote
in person due to a religious commitment, providing increased access to
the franchise.

School elections in New York tend to have low rates of voter partic-
ipation. In 2021, only 520,717 total New Yorkers cast ballots on the 675
school budgets submitted to the voters. In contrast, in 2020, when
school budget votes were conducted entirely by absentee ballot due to
COVID-19, almost 1.6 million New Yorkers cast votes.1 This legislation
would give more voters access to absentee ballots, hopefully increasing
participation in future school elections.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S9521 (2023-24).: Referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
Heiser, Paul. "Voter turnout drops 67%." New York State School Boards
Association. June 14, 2021. Accessed May 15. 2024.
1.Heiser, Paul. "Voter turnout drops 67%." New York State School Boards
Association. June 14, 2021. Accessed May 15, 2024.
https://www.nyssba.org/new/2021/06/14/on-board-online-june-14-2021/
voter-turnout-drops-67/

2025-S4469 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4469
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to absentee  ballots  for
   school district elections due to a religious commitment
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraphs a and c of subdivision 2 of  section  2018-a  of
 the  education  law,  paragraph a as amended and paragraph c as added by
 chapter 616 of the laws of 2019, are amended to read as follows:
   a. A qualified voter may vote as an absentee voter under this  section
 if  during  all the hours of voting on the day of an election [he or she
 will] SUCH VOTER EXPECTS TO be:
   (1) absent from [the] THEIR county of [his or her] residence; or
   (2) unable to appear at the polling place because of illness or  phys-
 ical  disability,  or  duties related to the primary care of one or more
 individuals who are ill or physically disabled, or because [he  or  she]
 SUCH VOTER will be or is a patient in a hospital; or
   (3)  an  [inmate]  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUAL  or patient of a veteran's
 administration hospital; or
   (4) absent from [his or her] SUCH VOTER'S voting residence because [he
 or she] SUCH VOTER is detained in jail awaiting action by a  grand  jury
 or  awaiting trial, or confined in jail or prison after a conviction for
 an offense other than a felony, provided that [he or she] SUCH VOTER  is
 qualified  to vote in the election district of [his or her] SUCH VOTER'S
 residence[.]; OR
   (5) UNABLE TO BE PRESENT DUE TO SUCH VOTER'S OBSERVANCE OF A RELIGIOUS
 COMMITMENT OR FOLLOWING SUCH VOTER'S RELIGIOUS TEACHING  OR  TENET  THAT
 FORBIDS SECULAR ACTIVITY ON THAT DAY.
   c.  The  application for an absentee ballot when filed must contain in
 each instance the following information:
   (1) Applicant's full name,  date  of  birth,  and  residence  address,
 including  the  street and number, if any, rural delivery route, if any,
 mailing address if different from the residence address and  an  address
 to which the ballot shall be mailed.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08446-01-5
 S. 4469                             2
 
   (2)  A  statement  that  the  applicant  is a qualified and registered
 voter.
   (3)  A statement, as appropriate, that on the day of such election the
 applicant expects in good faith to be in one of  the  following  catego-
 ries:
   (a)  absent  from  [the]  THEIR  county  of  [his  or  her] residence;
 provided, however, if the applicant expects to be absent from such coun-
 ty for a duration covering more than one election and seeks an  absentee
 ballot  for  each  election,  [he or she] SUCH APPLICANT shall state the
 dates when [he or she  expects]  THEY  EXPECT  to  begin  and  end  such
 absence; or
   (b) unable to appear at a polling place because of illness or physical
 disability or duties related to the primary care of one or more individ-
 uals who are ill or physically disabled; or
   (c)  an  [inmate]  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUAL  or patient of a veteran's
 administration hospital; or
   (d) detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial
 or confined in jail or prison after a conviction for  an  offense  other
 than  a felony and stating the place where [he or she] SUCH APPLICANT is
 so detained or confined[.]; OR
   (E) UNABLE TO BE PRESENT DUE TO SUCH VOTER'S OBSERVANCE OF A RELIGIOUS
 COMMITMENT OR FOLLOWING SUCH VOTER'S RELIGIOUS TEACHING  OR  TENET  THAT
 FORBIDS SECULAR ACTIVITY ON THAT DAY.
   §  2.  Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 2018-b of the education
 law, as amended by chapter 46 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as
 follows:
   a. An applicant for such an absentee ballot shall submit  an  applica-
 tion  setting  forth  (1)  [his]  SUCH  APPLICANT'S  name  and residence
 address, including the street and number, if  any,  or  town  and  rural
 delivery  route,  if any; (2) that [he] SUCH APPLICANT is or will be, on
 the day of the school district election, a qualified voter of the school
 district in which [he resides] THEY RESIDE in that [he]  SUCH  APPLICANT
 is  or  will  be, on such date, over eighteen years of age, a citizen of
 the United States and has or will have resided in the district for thir-
 ty days next preceding such date; (3) that [he] SUCH APPLICANT  will  be
 unable  to  appear  to  vote in person on the day of the school district
 election for which the absentee ballot is requested  because  [he]  SUCH
 APPLICANT  is,  or  will  be on such day (a) a patient in a hospital, or
 unable to appear personally at the polling place on such day because  of
 illness  or  physical  disability  or (b) because [his] SUCH APPLICANT'S
 duties, occupation, business, or studies will require [him] THEM  to  be
 outside  of the county or city of [his] THEIR residence on such day, (c)
 because [he] SUCH APPLICANT will be on vacation outside  the  county  or
 city  of  [his] THEIR residence on such day; [or,] (d) absent from [his]
 SUCH  APPLICANT'S  voting  residence  because  [he]  SUCH  APPLICANT  is
 detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial or is
 confined  in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony;
 OR (E) UNABLE TO BE PRESENT DUE TO  SUCH  APPLICANT'S  OBSERVANCE  OF  A
 RELIGIOUS  COMMITMENT,  OR FOLLOWING SUCH APPLICANT'S RELIGIOUS TEACHING
 OR TENET THAT FORBIDS SECULAR ACTIVITY ON THAT DAY.    Such  application
 must  be  received  by the district clerk or designee of the trustees or
 school board at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to
 be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is
 to be delivered personally to the voter.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§2018-a & 2018-b, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S9521

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to absentee ballots for school district elections due to a religious commitment or following such applicant's religious teaching or tenet that forbids secular activity on that day.

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4469A

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to absentee ballots for
school district elections due to a religious commitment

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To allow voters to request an absentee ballot for a school election if
they will be unable to vote in person due to a religious commitment.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends paragraphs a and c section 2018-a of the education law,
to allow voters to request an absentee ballot for elections in school
districts which do not utilize poll registration if they cannot vote in
person due to a religious commitment.

Section 2 amends subdivision 2 of section 2018-b of the education law,
to allow voters to request an absentee ballot for elections in school

districts which do utilize poll registration if they cannot vote in
person due to a religious commitment.

Section 3 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Under current law, voters may only request an absentee ballot for school
elections in a limited number of circumstances: if they are out of town
on the day of the election, unable to appear in person due to an illness
or disability, or currently incarcerated in jail.  This legislation
would allow voters to request an absentee ballot when they cannot vote
in person due to a religious commitment, providing increased access to
the franchise.

School elections in New York tend to have low rates of voter partic-
ipation. In 2021, only 520,717 total New Yorkers cast ballots on the 675
school budgets submitted to the voters. In contrast, in 2020, when
school budget votes were conducted entirely by absentee ballot due to
COVID-19, almost 1.6 million New Yorkers cast votes.l This legislation
would give more voters access to absentee ballots, hopefully increasing
participation in future school elections.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S9521 (2023-24).: Referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
Heiser, Paul. "Voter turnout drops 67%." New York State School Boards
Association. June 14, 2021. Accessed May 15. 2024.
1.Heiser, Paul. "Voter turnout drops 67%." New York State School Boards
Association. June 14, 2021.. Accessed May 15, 2024.
https://www.nyssba.org/new/2021/06/14/on-board-online-june-14-2021/
voter-turnout-drops-67/

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4469--A
     Cal. No. 1175
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education  --  recommitted
   to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8
   --  reported  favorably  from said committee, ordered to first report,
   amended on first report,  ordered  to  a  second  report  and  ordered
   reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the education law, in relation to absentee ballots for
   school district elections due to a religious commitment
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Paragraphs  a and c of subdivision 2 of section 2018-a of
 the education law, as amended by chapter 541 of the laws  of  2025,  are
 amended to read as follows:
   a.  A qualified voter may vote as an absentee voter under this section
 if on the occurrence of an election such voter expects to be:
   (1) absent from their county of residence; or
   (2) unable to appear  personally  at  the  polling  place  because  of
 illness or physical disability, or duties related to the primary care of
 one  or  more individuals who are ill or physically disabled, or because
 such voter will be or is a patient in a hospital; or
   (3) a resident or patient of a veteran's administration hospital; or
   (4) absent from such voter's voting residence because  such  voter  is
 detained  in  jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial, or
 confined in jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other  than
 a  felony, provided that such voter is qualified to vote in the election
 district of such voter's residence[.]; OR
   (5) UNABLE TO BE PRESENT DUE TO SUCH VOTER'S OBSERVANCE OF A RELIGIOUS
 COMMITMENT OR FOLLOWING SUCH VOTER'S RELIGIOUS TEACHING  OR  TENET  THAT
 FORBIDS SECULAR ACTIVITY ON THAT DAY.
   c.  The  application for an absentee ballot when filed must contain in
 each instance the following information:
   (1) Applicant's full name,  date  of  birth,  and  residence  address,
 including  the  street and number, if any, rural delivery route, if any,

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08446-02-6
 S. 4469--A                          2
 
 mailing address if different from the residence address and  an  address
 to which the ballot shall be mailed.
   (2)  A  statement  that  the  applicant  is a qualified and registered
 voter.
   (3) A statement, as appropriate, that on the day of such election  the
 applicant  expects  in  good faith to be in one of the following catego-
 ries:
   (a) absent from their county of residence; provided, however,  if  the
 applicant  expects to be absent from such county for a duration covering
 more than one election and seeks an absentee ballot for  each  election,
 such  applicant  shall state the dates when they expect to begin and end
 such absence; or
   (b) unable to appear at a polling place because of illness or physical
 disability or duties related to the primary care of one or more individ-
 uals who are ill or physically disabled; or
   (c) a resident or patient of a veteran's administration hospital; or
   (d) detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial
 or confined in jail or prison after a conviction for  an  offense  other
 than  a felony and stating the place where such applicant is so detained
 or confined[.]; OR
   (E) UNABLE TO BE PRESENT DUE TO SUCH VOTER'S OBSERVANCE OF A RELIGIOUS
 COMMITMENT OR FOLLOWING SUCH VOTER'S RELIGIOUS TEACHING  OR  TENET  THAT
 FORBIDS SECULAR ACTIVITY ON THAT DAY.
   §  2.  Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 2018-b of the education
 law, as amended by chapter 541 of the laws of 2025, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   a.  An  applicant for such an absentee ballot shall submit an applica-
 tion setting forth:
   (1) such applicant's full name, date of birth and  residence  address,
 including  the  street  and  number,  if any, or town and rural delivery
 route, if any, mailing address if different from the  residence  address
 and an address to which the ballot shall be mailed;
   (2)  that  such  applicant  is  or  will  be, on the day of the school
 district election, a qualified voter of the school district;
   (3) a statement, as appropriate, that on the day of such election  the
 applicant  expects  in  good faith to be in one of the following catego-
 ries:
   (a) a resident or patient in a hospital, including a veteran's  admin-
 istration  hospital, or unable to appear personally at the polling place
 on such day because of illness or physical disability, or duties related
 to the primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically
 disabled; or
   (b) absent from the county of such  applicant's  residence;  provided,
 however,  if  the  applicant expects to be absent from such county for a
 duration covering more than one election and seeks  an  absentee  ballot
 for each election, such applicant shall state the dates when they expect
 to begin and end such absence; or
   (c) detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial
 or  confined  in  jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other
 than a felony and stating the place where such applicant is so  detained
 or confined[.]; OR
   (D) UNABLE TO BE PRESENT DUE TO SUCH APPLICANT'S OBSERVANCE OF A RELI-
 GIOUS  COMMITMENT,  OR  FOLLOWING SUCH APPLICANT'S RELIGIOUS TEACHING OR
 TENET THAT FORBIDS SECULAR ACTIVITY ON THAT DAY.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S4469A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

Votes

May 19, 2026 - Education Committee Vote

Education Committee Vote: May 19, 2026

Bill Amendments

2025-S4469 - Details

2025-S4469 - Summary

2025-S4469 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4469 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Do you support this bill?

Get Status Alerts for 2025-S4469A

Senate Bill S4469A

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Sponsored By

Shelley B. Mayer

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

Votes

Bill Amendments

2025-S4469 - Details

2025-S4469 - Summary

2025-S4469 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4469 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4469A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments