NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7689A

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections 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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 14, 2025	print number 7689a
May 14, 2025	amend and recommit to elections
Apr 29, 2025	referred to elections

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S7689 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§8-400, 8-408, 10-104, 10-106, 10-107, 10-108, 11-202, 11-203 & 11-210, El L; amd §305, Ed L

2025-S7689 - Summary

Authorizes electronic absentee ballot applications for military voters and special federal voters; removes requirements that the federal post card application form be included with certain ballot application and ballots; requires institutions of higher education to provide students studying abroad with information on how to vote from abroad.

2025-S7689 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7689

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law and the education law, in relation to
overseas military voters and special federal voters

 
PURPOSE:

To ease restrictions facing overseas voters related to the federal post
card application form ("FPCA").

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends section 8-408 of the election law to allow military
and special federal voters who receive a FPCA form to be able to submit
such form through the electronic absentee ballot application transmittal
system.

Section 2: Amends section 10-107 of the election law to allow military
voters to submit their FPCAs through the electronic absentee ballot

application transmittal system without being required to submit a paper
copy to the state board of elections or any county board of elections.

Section 3: Amends section 10-108 of the election law to allow ballots
for military voters to be distributed by the board of elections not
earlier than 90 days nor later than 75 days before a primary or general
election.

Section 4: Amends section 10-112 of the election law to prohibit a board
of elections from refusing to accept and process any valid military
ballot without a PFCA.

Section 5: Amends section 10-125 of the election law to prohibit a board
of elections from refusing to accept and process any valid voter regis-
tration application, military ballot application, marked miliary ballot
submitted by mail or personally delivered - or federal write-in absentee
ballot submitted in any manner - solely on the basis that the FPCA was
not included with the military ballot application, marked military
ballot, or federal write-in absentee ballot.

Section 6: Amends section 11-203 of the election law to allow special
federal voters to submit their FPCAs through the electronic absentee
ballot application transmittal system without being required to submit a
paper copy to the state board of elections or any county board of
elections.

Section 7: Amends section 11-210 of the election law to allow ballots
for special federal voters to be distributed by the board of elections
not earlier than 90 days nor later than 75 days before a primary or
general election.

Section 8: Amends section 11-219 of the election law to prohibit a board
of elections from refusing to accept and process any valid voter regis-
tration application or special federal ballot application submitted by
mail or personally delivered - or federal write-in absentee ballot
submitted in any manner - solely on the basis that the FPCA was not

included with the special federal ballot application, marked special
federal ballot, or federal write-in absentee ballot.

Section 9: Amends section 305 of the education law to authorize the
commissioner of education to require institutions of higher education to
provide all enrolled students participating in classes or educational
experiences while in another country during a primary or general
election with an electronic form for - or link to - a FPCA at least one
week prior to the start of such classes or educational experiences in
another country.

Section 10: Sets Effective Date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The FPCA registers a military or overseas citizen voter to vote and
simultaneously requests absentee ballots. However, state FPCA require-
ments may vary based on allowed return methods, whether the voter is
required to also mail a copy of their FPCA if their original FPCA was
submitted electronically, etc. This bill would generally simplify the
overseas voting process for eligible voters by eliminating certain
impediments related to returning the FPCA.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2025-S7689 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7689
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 29, 2025
                                ___________
 
 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 and the education law, in  relation  to
   overseas military voters and special federal voters
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section  8-408  of  the  election  law  is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
   (E)  MILITARY  VOTERS AND SPECIAL FEDERAL VOTERS WHO RECEIVE A FEDERAL
 POST CARD APPLICATION FORM SHALL BE ABLE TO  SUBMIT  SUCH  FEDERAL  POST
 CARD  APPLICATION  FORM USING THE ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION
 TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM.
   § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 10-107 of the election law, as added  by
 chapter 104 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Irrespective of the preferred method of transmission designated by
 a military voter, a military voter's original completed voter  registra-
 tion application[, military ballot application] and military ballot must
 be  returned  by mail or in person notwithstanding that a prior copy was
 sent to the board of elections by facsimile transmission  or  electronic
 mail.  A  COMPLETED  MILITARY  BALLOT  APPLICATION SUBMITTED THROUGH THE
 ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM  ESTABLISHED
 UNDER SECTION 8-408 OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE AN ORIGINAL APPLICATION AND
 NO  CONFORMING  PAPER SUBMISSION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A FEDERAL
 POST CARD APPLICATION FORM, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED TO  EITHER
 THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR ANY COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   §  3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 10-108 of the election
 law, as amended by chapter 164 of the laws of 2022, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   (a)  Ballots for military voters shall be mailed or otherwise distrib-
 uted by the board of elections, in accordance with the preferred  method
 of  transmission  designated  by the voter pursuant to section 10-107 of
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11782-04-5

 S. 7689                             2
 
 this article, as soon as practicable but in any event not  EARLIER  THAN
 NINETY DAYS NOR later than [forty-six] SEVENTY-FIVE days before a prima-
 ry or general election; twenty-five days before a New York city communi-
 ty  school  board  district or city of Buffalo school district election;
 fourteen days before a  village  election  conducted  by  the  board  of
 elections;  forty-five  days before a special election; and twenty-three
 days before a special election held pursuant to paragraph b of  subdivi-
 sion  three of section forty-two of the public officers law. A voter who
 submits a military ballot application shall be entitled  to  a  military
 ballot thereafter for each subsequent election through and including the
 next  two  regularly  scheduled  general elections held in even numbered
 years, including any run-offs which may occur; provided,  however,  such
 application  shall  not be valid for any election held within seven days
 after its receipt. Ballots shall also be mailed to any  qualified  mili-
 tary  voter  who  is  already  registered and who requests such military
 ballot from such board of elections in a letter, which is signed by  the
 voter  and received by the board of elections not later than the seventh
 day before the election for which the  ballot  is  requested  and  which
 states  the  address  where  the  voter is registered and the address to
 which the ballot is to be mailed. The board of elections  shall  enclose
 with  such ballot a form of application for military ballot. In the case
 of a primary election, the board shall deliver only the  ballot  of  the
 party  with  which the military voter is enrolled according to the mili-
 tary voter's registration records. In the event a  primary  election  is
 uncontested in the military voter's election district for all offices or
 positions except the party position of member of the ward, town, city or
 county  committee,  no  ballot shall be delivered to such military voter
 for such election; and the military voter shall be advised of the reason
 why [he or she] THEY will not receive a ballot.
   § 4. Section 10-112 of the election law, as amended by chapter 104  of
 the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   §  10-112.  Military  voter; voting. The military voter shall mark the
 military ballot provided for in this article in the same  manner  as  an
 absentee  ballot.  After  marking  the ballot, [he or she] SUCH MILITARY
 VOTER shall fold such ballot and enclose it  in  the  inner  affirmation
 envelope  bearing the military voter's affirmation on the outside of the
 envelope and seal the envelope. [He or she] SUCH  MILITARY  VOTER  shall
 then sign the affirmation, with the blanks properly filled in. The inner
 affirmation  envelope  containing  the  military  ballot  shall  then be
 inserted in the outer envelope addressed to  the  appropriate  board  of
 elections,  which  shall be mailed or personally delivered to such board
 of elections of [his or her] SUCH MILITARY VOTER'S county  of  residence
 within  the  time limits provided by this chapter.  A BOARD OF ELECTIONS
 SHALL NOT REFUSE TO ACCEPT AND PROCESS ANY VALID MILITARY BALLOT WITHOUT
 THE OFFICIAL  POST  CARD  FORM  PRESCRIBED  UNDER  SECTION  101  OF  THE
 UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT (42 USC 1973FF).
   §  5.  Subdivisions  1 and 2 of section 10-125 of the election law, as
 added by chapter 104 of the  laws  of  2010,  are  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   1.  A  board  of  elections shall not refuse to accept and process any
 otherwise valid voter registration application or military ballot appli-
 cation (including the official post card form prescribed  under  section
 101  of  the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 USC
 1973ff)) or marked military  ballot  submitted  by  mail  or  personally
 delivered, solely on the basis of the following:
   (a) Notarization requirements;
 S. 7689                             3
 
   (b) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size; [or]
   (c) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size; OR
   (D) NOT INCLUDING THE OFFICIAL POST CARD FORM PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION
 101  OF  THE UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT (42 USC
 1973FF) WITH THE MILITARY BALLOT APPLICATION OR MARKED MILITARY BALLOT.
   2. A board of elections shall not refuse to  accept  and  process  any
 otherwise valid federal write-in absentee ballot submitted in any manner
 by a military voter solely on the basis of the following:
   (a) Notarization requirements;
   (b) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size; [or]
   (c) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size; OR
   (D) NOT INCLUDING THE OFFICIAL POST CARD FORM PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION
 101  OF  THE UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT (42 USC
 1973FF) WITH THE FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT.
   § 6. Subdivision 2 of section 11-203 of the election law, as added  by
 chapter 104 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Irrespective of the preferred method of transmission designated by
 a special federal voter, a special federal  voter's  original  completed
 voter registration application[, special federal ballot application] and
 special  federal  ballot  must be returned by mail or in person notwith-
 standing that a prior copy was sent to the board of elections by facsim-
 ile transmission or electronic mail. A COMPLETED SPECIAL  FEDERAL  VOTER
 BALLOT  APPLICATION  SUBMITTED  THROUGH  THE  ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOT
 APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 8-408  OF  THIS
 CHAPTER  SHALL  BE  AN  ORIGINAL  APPLICATION  AND  NO  CONFORMING PAPER
 SUBMISSION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A FEDERAL POST CARD APPLICATION
 FORM, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED TO EITHER  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS OR ANY COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   §  7.  Subdivision 1 of section 11-210 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 262 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
   1. Not earlier than [sixty] NINETY or later than [forty]  SEVENTY-FIVE
 days  before  each  general or primary election in which special federal
 voters are eligible to vote, the board of elections shall mail  to  each
 voter  who  is  eligible to vote in such election and who was registered
 pursuant to this title for the previous election at  which  such  voters
 were  eligible  to  vote,  the  application for a special federal ballot
 provided for by this title[; provided, however, the board  of  elections
 shall  not  send such an application to any person who has applied for a
 ballot and who is entitled to receive a ballot for such election].
   § 8. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 11-219 of the  election  law,  as
 added  by  chapter  104  of  the  laws  of  2010, are amended to read as
 follows:
   1. A board of elections shall not refuse to  accept  and  process  any
 otherwise valid voter registration application or special federal ballot
 application  (including  the  official  post  card form prescribed under
 section 101 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee  Voting  Act
 (42  USC  1973ff)) or marked special federal ballot submitted by mail or
 personally delivered, solely on the basis of the following:
   (a) Notarization requirements;
   (b) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size; [or]
   (c) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size; OR
   (D) NOT INCLUDING THE OFFICIAL POST CARD FORM PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION
 101 OF THE UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT  (42  USC
 1973FF)  WITH  THE  SPECIAL FEDERAL BALLOT APPLICATION OR MARKED SPECIAL
 FEDERAL BALLOT.
 S. 7689                             4
 
   2. A board of elections shall not refuse to  accept  and  process  any
 otherwise valid federal write-in absentee ballot submitted in any manner
 by a special federal voter solely on the basis of the following:
   (a) Notarization requirements;
   (b) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size; [or]
   (c) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size; OR
   (D) NOT INCLUDING THE OFFICIAL POST CARD FORM PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION
 101  OF  THE UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT (42 USC
 1973FF) WITH THE FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT.
   § 9. Section 305 of the education law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 63 to read as follows:
   63. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO
 PROVIDE  ALL  ENROLLED  STUDENTS  WHICH  ARE PARTICIPATING IN CLASSES OR
 EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WHILE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY  DURING  A  PRIMARY  OR
 GENERAL  ELECTION WITH AN ELECTRONIC FORM FOR A FEDERAL POST CARD APPLI-
 CATION OR A LINK TO SUCH A FORM OR APPLICATION WITH CLEAR  DIRECTION  ON
 HOW TO VOTE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE START OF
 SUCH CLASSES OR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
   §  10.  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such effective date.

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§8-400, 8-408, 10-104, 10-106, 10-107, 10-108, 11-202, 11-203 & 11-210, El L; amd §305, Ed L

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7689A

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law and the education law, in relation to
overseas military voters and special federal voters

 
PURPOSE:

To ease restrictions facing overseas voters related to the federal post
card application form ("FPCA").

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends section 8-400 of the election law to allow the board
of elections to mail an absentee ballot to every qualified voter who
makes a request via email.

Section 2: Amends section 8-408 of the election law to allow military
and special federal voters to apply for military and special federal
ballots using the electronic absentee ballot application transmittal

system or any other electronic means; states that applications submitted
electronically do not require a subsequent/redundant paper version to
also be submitted.

Section 3: Amends section 10-104 of the election law to allow for absen-
tee voting by military voters in primary elections to apply to the party
positions of members of the ward, town, city, or county committee.

Section 4: Amends section 10-106 of the election law to require boards
of elections to register on or before the tenth day preceding an
election all military voters who have filed applications for military
ballots by such day who were not already registered; allows such regis-
tration and application to be filed by electronic means and does not
require a subsequent/redundant paper version to also be submitted;
includes primaries within elections that boards of elections must send
military voters an application for a military ballot.

Section 5: Amends section 10-107 of the election law to allow electron-
ically submitted completed military ballot applications without requir-
ing a conforming paper submission to also be submitted.

Section 6: Amends section 10-108 of the election law to make conforming
changes for military voters.

Section 7: Amends section 11-202 of the election law to make conforming
changes for military and special federal voters.

Section 8: Amends section 11-203 of the election law to allow electron-
ically submitted completed special federal voter ballot applications
without requiring a conforming paper submission to also be submitted.

Section 9: Amends section 11-210 of the election law to allow ballots
for special federal voters to be distributed by the board of elections
not earlier than 90 days nor later than 75 days before a primary or
general election.


Section 10: Amends section 305 of the education law to authorize the
commissioner of education to require institutions of higher education to
provide all enrolled students participating in classes or educational
experiences while in another country during a primary or general
election with an electronic form for - or link to - a FPCA at least one
week prior to the start of such classes or educational experiences in
another country.

Section 11: Sets Effective Date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The FPCA registers a military or overseas citizen voter to vote and
simultaneously requests absentee ballots. However, state FPCA require-
ments may vary based on allowed return methods, whether the voter is
required to also mail a copy of their FPCA if their original FPCA was
submitted electronically, etc. This bill would generally simplify the
overseas voting process for eligible voters by eliminating certain
impediments related to returning the FPCA and completed military/special
federal voter ballot applications.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7689--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 29, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- 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 and the education law, in relation to
   overseas military voters and special federal voters
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Paragraph  (d)  of  subdivision 2 of section 8-400 of the
 election law, as amended by chapter 481 of the laws of 2023, is  amended
 to read as follows:
   (d)  The  board  of  elections  shall mail an absentee ballot to every
 qualified voter otherwise eligible for such a ballot, who requests  such
 an  absentee ballot from such board of elections in writing in a letter,
 telefax indicating the address, phone number and the telefax number from
 which the writing is sent, or other written instrument, OR EMAIL, or  an
 electronic  application  submitted  by  the voter through the electronic
 absentee ballot application transmittal system established by the  state
 board  of  elections,  which  is signed by the voter and received by the
 board of elections not later than the tenth day before the election  for
 which  the  ballot is first requested and which states the address where
 the voter is registered and the address to which the  ballot  is  to  be
 mailed[;  provided,  however,  a  military  voter may request a military
 ballot or voter registration application or an absentee ballot  applica-
 tion  in  a letter as provided in subdivision three of section 10-106 of
 this chapter; and provided further, a special federal voter may  request
 a  special federal ballot or voter registration application or an absen-
 tee ballot application in a letter as provided in paragraph d of  subdi-
 vision  one  of  section  11-202 of this chapter. The board of elections
 shall enclose with such ballot a form of application for absentee ballot
 if the applicant is registered with such board of elections].
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11782-05-5

 S. 7689--A                          2
 
   § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 8-408 of the election law is amended  by
 adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
   (E)  MILITARY VOTERS AND SPECIAL FEDERAL VOTERS SHALL BE ABLE TO APPLY
 FOR MILITARY AND SPECIAL FEDERAL BALLOTS USING THE  ELECTRONIC  ABSENTEE
 BALLOT  APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM  OR ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS,
 INCLUDING EMAIL OR FAX. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS  SHALL  ENSURE  THE
 ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM SHALL BE CAPA-
 BLE  OF  CAPTURING  SUCH  ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO
 DETERMINE A VOTER'S ELIGIBILITY, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TEN AND  TITLE  TWO
 OF  ARTICLE ELEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER, AND SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE
 NEEDED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY,  ANY
 APPLICATION  SUBMITTED  BY ELECTRONIC PORTAL, EMAIL OR FAX, IF OTHERWISE
 VALID, SHALL NOT REQUIRE A  SUBSEQUENT  OR  REDUNDANT  ADDITIONAL  PAPER
 VERSION  OF  SUCH  REGISTRATION  OR  APPLICATION TO BE ALSO SUBMITTED IN
 ORDER TO BE FULLY EFFECTIVE AND VALID.
   § 3. Section 10-104 of the election law is amended to read as follows:
   § 10-104. Military voters; right to vote. A  military  voter  of  this
 state shall be entitled to vote as fully as if [he] THEY were present at
 [his] THEIR polling place and to register and vote in the manner herein-
 after  provided [except that the provisions of this article for absentee
 voting in primary elections shall not apply to the  party  positions  of
 members of the ward, town, city or county committee].
   §  4. Subdivisions 1, 4, and 11 of section 10-106 of the election law,
 subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 434 of the laws of 1984 and subdivi-
 sions 4 and 11 as amended by chapter  104  of  the  laws  of  2010,  are
 amended to read as follows:
   1. On or before the [thirty-fifth] TENTH day preceding an election the
 names  and  addresses of all military voters who have filed applications
 for military ballots by such day and who  were  not  already  registered
 shall  be  registered by the board of elections in the election district
 of residence of such military  voter  as  hereinafter  provided.    SUCH
 REGISTRATION  AND  APPLICATION  FOR  A MILITARY BALLOT SHALL BE FILED IN
 PERSON, OR BY MAIL, OR BY ELECTRONIC PORTAL, OR BY  EMAIL,  OR  BY  FAX.
 NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY REGIS-
 TRATION OR APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY  ELECTRONIC  PORTAL,  EMAIL  OR  FAX
 SHALL  NOT REQUIRE A SUBSEQUENT OR REDUNDANT ADDITIONAL PAPER VERSION OF
 SUCH REGISTRATION OR APPLICATION TO BE ALSO SUBMITTED  IN  ORDER  TO  BE
 FULLY EFFECTIVE AND VALID.
   4.  Not earlier than the ninetieth or later than the seventy-fifth day
 before each general OR PRIMARY election, each county or  city  board  of
 elections  shall send, in accordance with the preferred method of trans-
 mission designated by the voter pursuant to section 10-107 of this arti-
 cle, to each person who is registered as a military voter and  to  every
 other  military  voter in such county or city for whom it has a military
 address, an application for a military ballot for such general  election
 in  a  form  prescribed  by  the  state  board of elections, which shall
 include a place for such military voter to enroll in a party, and  shall
 include the return address of such board of elections.
   11.  A  board  of  elections  may send to any spouse, parent, or adult
 child, brother or sister of a military voter serving inside  or  outside
 of  the  continental  limits  of the United States, an application for a
 military ballot, in a form prescribed by the state board  of  elections.
 Such  application  shall  be  on a postcard addressed to the appropriate
 board of elections and shall include the statement  "I  understand  that
 this  application will be accepted for all purposes as the equivalent of
 an affidavit and, if it  contains  a  material  false  statement,  shall
 S. 7689--A                          3
 
 subject  me  to  the  same  penalties as if I had been duly sworn". Such
 application may be signed by the spouse, parent or adult child,  brother
 or  sister  of  such military voter. Upon receipt of such an application
 from  such  a relative of a military voter, the board of elections shall
 mail a military ballot to such military voter [together with an applica-
 tion for a military ballot and instructions that such  application  must
 be  completed  and  returned  together  with the envelope containing the
 military ballot. No ballot sent to a military voter upon the application
 of a relative of such military voter shall be cast or canvassed unless a
 completed application for military ballot signed by such military  voter
 is  returned  within  the  time  limits  for the receipt of the military
 ballot itself].
   § 5. Subdivision 2 of section 10-107 of the election law, as added  by
 chapter 104 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Irrespective of the preferred method of transmission designated by
 a military voter, a military voter's original completed [voter registra-
 tion application, military ballot application and] military ballot  must
 be  returned by mail or in person [notwithstanding that a prior copy was
 sent to the board of elections by facsimile transmission  or  electronic
 mail].  A  COMPLETED  MILITARY  BALLOT APPLICATION SUBMITTED THROUGH THE
 ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM  ESTABLISHED
 UNDER  SECTION  8-408  OF THIS CHAPTER OR BY EMAIL OR BY FAX SHALL BE AN
 ORIGINAL APPLICATION AND NO CONFORMING PAPER SUBMISSION,  INCLUDING  BUT
 NOT  LIMITED  TO A FEDERAL POST CARD APPLICATION FORM, SHALL BE REQUIRED
 TO BE SUBMITTED TO EITHER THE STATE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS  OR  ANY  COUNTY
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   §  6. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 10-108 of the election
 law, as amended by chapter 164 of the laws of 2022, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   (a)  Ballots for military voters shall be mailed or otherwise distrib-
 uted by the board of elections, in accordance with the preferred  method
 of  transmission  designated  by the voter pursuant to section 10-107 of
 this article, as soon as practicable but in any  event  not  later  than
 forty-six  days  before  a primary or general election; twenty-five days
 before a New York city  community  school  board  district  or  city  of
 Buffalo  school  district  election;  fourteen  days  before  a  village
 election conducted by the board of elections; forty-five days  before  a
 special  election;  and twenty-three days before a special election held
 pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision three of section forty-two of the
 public officers law. A voter who submits a military  ballot  application
 shall  be  entitled  to a military ballot thereafter for each subsequent
 election through and including the next two regularly scheduled  general
 elections  held in even numbered years, including any run-offs which may
 occur; provided, however, such application shall not be  valid  for  any
 election held within seven days after its receipt. Ballots shall also be
 mailed to any qualified military voter who is already registered and who
 requests  such military ballot from such board of elections in a letter,
 which is signed by the voter and received by the board of elections  not
 later  than  the seventh day before the election for which the ballot is
 requested and which states the address where the voter is registered and
 the address to which the ballot is to be mailed. [The board of elections
 shall enclose with such  ballot  a  form  of  application  for  military
 ballot.] In the case of a primary election, the board shall deliver only
 the  ballot  of  the  party  with  which  the military voter is enrolled
 according to the military voter's registration records. In the  event  a
 primary  election  is  uncontested  in  the  military  voter's  election
 S. 7689--A                          4
 
 district for all offices or positions  [except  the  party  position  of
 member  of the ward, town, city or county committee], no ballot shall be
 delivered to such military voter for such  election;  and  the  military
 voter  shall  be  advised  of  the  reason why [he or she] THEY will not
 receive a ballot.
   § 7. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 1  of  section  11-202  of  the
 election  law, paragraph a as amended by chapter 113 of the laws of 2023
 and paragraph b as amended by chapter 262  of  the  laws  of  2003,  are
 amended to read as follows:
   a.  A  person,  who, pursuant to this title, is qualified to vote as a
 special federal voter may, by application received by the state board of
 elections or any local board of elections on or  before  the  tenth  day
 next  preceding  any  election in which such person would be entitled to
 vote [or the last day of local registration for such election, whichever
 is later,] apply to the board of elections of the county in  which  they
 resided  [in  person or by personal application by mail for registration
 and enrollment as a special  federal  voter].    SUCH  REGISTRATION  AND
 APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL FEDERAL BALLOT SHALL BE FILED IN PERSON, OR BY
 MAIL,  OR BY ELECTRONIC PORTAL, OR BY EMAIL, OR BY FAX.  NOTWITHSTANDING
 ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY REGISTRATION OR APPLICA-
 TION SUBMITTED BY ELECTRONIC PORTAL, EMAIL OR FAX SHALL  NOT  REQUIRE  A
 SUBSEQUENT OR REDUNDANT ADDITIONAL PAPER VERSION OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
 APPLICATION  TO  BE  ALSO  SUBMITTED  IN ORDER TO BE FULLY EFFECTIVE AND
 VALID. An application for registration and enrollment pursuant  to  this
 article  shall be treated as an application for a special federal ballot
 for every election in which the applicant  would  be  eligible  to  vote
 which  is  held  through  and including the next two regularly scheduled
 general elections held in even numbered years,  including  any  run-offs
 which may occur.
   b. A  person who, pursuant to the provisions of this title, is already
 registered as a special federal voter, may, by application  received  by
 the  state  board of elections or any local board of elections, apply to
 the board of elections of the county in which [he is] THEY ARE so regis-
 tered [in person or by mail] BY ANY MEANS PROVIDED FOR BY  THIS  CHAPTER
 for  a  special federal ballot. Such an application shall entitle such a
 voter to receive a ballot for every election  in  which  such  voter  is
 entitled  to vote which is held through and including the next two regu-
 larly scheduled general elections held in even numbered years, including
 any run-offs which may occur, provided, however, such application  shall
 not  apply  to  any  election  held  on  or before the seventh day after
 receipt of such application.
   § 8. Subdivision 2 of section 11-203 of the election law, as added  by
 chapter 104 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Irrespective of the preferred method of transmission designated by
 a special federal voter, a special federal voter's  [original  completed
 voter  registration application, special federal ballot application and]
 special federal ballot must be returned by mail or in  person  [notwith-
 standing that a prior copy was sent to the board of elections by facsim-
 ile  transmission or electronic mail]. A COMPLETED SPECIAL FEDERAL VOTER
 BALLOT APPLICATION SUBMITTED  THROUGH  THE  ELECTRONIC  ABSENTEE  BALLOT
 APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 8-408 OF THIS
 CHAPTER OR BY EMAIL OR BY FAX SHALL BE AN ORIGINAL  APPLICATION  AND  NO
 CONFORMING  PAPER  SUBMISSION,  INCLUDING  BUT  NOT LIMITED TO A FEDERAL
 POSTCARD APPLICATION FORM, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED  TO  EITHER
 THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR ANY COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
 S. 7689--A                          5
 
   §  9.  Subdivision 1 of section 11-210 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 262 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Not earlier than [sixty] NINETY or later than [forty] SEVENTY-FIVE
 days before each general or primary election in  which  special  federal
 voters  are  eligible to vote, the board of elections shall mail to each
 voter who is eligible to vote in such election and  who  was  registered
 pursuant  to  this  title for the previous election at which such voters
 were eligible to vote, the application  for  a  special  federal  ballot
 provided  for  by this title[; provided, however, the board of elections
 shall not send such an application to any person who has applied  for  a
 ballot and who is entitled to receive a ballot for such election].
   §  10.  Section  305  of  the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 63 to read as follows:
   63. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO
 PROVIDE ALL ENROLLED STUDENTS WHICH  ARE  PARTICIPATING  IN  CLASSES  OR
 EDUCATIONAL  EXPERIENCES  WHILE  IN  ANOTHER COUNTRY DURING A PRIMARY OR
 GENERAL ELECTION WITH AN ELECTRONIC FORM FOR A FEDERAL POSTCARD APPLICA-
 TION OR A LINK TO SUCH A FORM OR APPLICATION WITH CLEAR DIRECTION ON HOW
 TO VOTE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR  TO  THE  START  OF
 SUCH CLASSES OR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
   §  11.  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S7689A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Bill Amendments

2025-S7689 - Details

2025-S7689 - Summary

2025-S7689 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7689 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7689A

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Sponsored By

James Skoufis

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Bill Amendments

2025-S7689 - Details

2025-S7689 - Summary

2025-S7689 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7689 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7689A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments