NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7961A

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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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 15, 2026	print number 7961a
Apr 15, 2026	amend and recommit to elections
Jan 07, 2026	referred to elections
May 15, 2025	referred to elections

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S7961 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2554
Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §4-104, add §8-606, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: A8783
2021-2022: A4179
2023-2024: A34

2025-S7961 - Summary

Designates campuses which are operated by the state university of New York with at least sixteen thousand enrolled students and an on campus dormitory as early voting sites and polling sites; provides that such designation requirements shall not apply where an early voting site or polling site is already designated within one mile of the geographic boundaries of such campus.

2025-S7961 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7961

SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to designating certain
state university campuses as early voting sites and polling sites

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to designating state and city university campuses as early
voting sites and polling sites.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 4-104 of the election law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 5-a requiring that a campus which is operated by the
State University of New York, has over 16,000 enrolled students and has
an on-campus dormitory have a polling place designated for registrants
on the campus.

Section 2 adds Section 8-604 of the election law requiring that early

voting be made available on a campus which is operated by the State
University of New York, has over 16,000 enrolled students and has an
on-campus dormitory.

Section 3 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York's public university systems are unique in their size and stat-
ure. In Fall 2021, there were a total of 326,010 undergraduate students
on State University of New York campuses and an estimated 243,000 under-
graduates on City University of New York campuses. Many of these
students live on their respective campuses and choose to register as
voters in the community they expect to be a part of for a significant
period of their lives.

However, many campuses are in areas of our state that are restricted
geographically. This makes it very difficult for registrants who live
on-campus to access polling places in off-campus areas in which they are
not completely familiarized. In addition, it remains difficult for
students who don't have vehicles on campus to exercise their right to
vote in the absence of robust public transportation systems statewide.

This legislation would ensure that students across New York State can
exercise one of our most sacred rights, the right to vote, regardless of
where they choose to attend school.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: A8783 - Referred to Election Law

2021-22: A4179 - Referred to Election Law

2023-24: A34 - Referred to Election Law

2025-25: A2554 - Referred to Election Law

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S7961 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7961
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FAHY  --  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  designating  certain
   state university campuses as early voting sites and polling sites
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 4-104 of the election law is amended  by  adding  a
 new subdivision 5-b to read as follows:
   5-B.  WHENEVER  A  CAMPUS WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
 NEW YORK AND HAS AN ENROLLMENT OF AT LEAST SIXTEEN THOUSAND STUDENTS AND
 AN ON CAMPUS DORMITORY, A POLLING PLACE DESIGNATED  FOR  REGISTRANTS  ON
 SUCH CAMPUS SHALL BE AT A LOCATION APPROVED BY SUCH COLLEGE OR UNIVERSI-
 TY.
   § 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 8-606 to read
 as follows:
   §  8-606. EARLY VOTING ON STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. EACH CAMPUS WHICH
 IS OPERATED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND WHICH HAS AN ENROLL-
 MENT OF AT LEAST SIXTEEN THOUSAND STUDENTS AND AN  ON  CAMPUS  DORMITORY
 SHALL HAVE AN EARLY VOTING SITE ON SUCH CAMPUS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01159-03-5

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2554
Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §4-104, add §8-606, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: A8783
2021-2022: A4179
2023-2024: A34

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7961A

SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to designating certain
state university campuses as early voting sites and polling sites

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to designating state and city university campuses as early
voting sites and polling sites.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 4-104 of the election law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 5-a requiring that a campus which is operated by the
State University of New York, has over 16,000 enrolled students and has
an on-campus dormitory have a polling place designated for registrants
on the campus.

Section 2 adds Section 8-604 of the election law requiring that early

voting be made available on a campus which is operated by the State
University of New York, has over 16,000 enrolled students and has an
on-campus dormitory.

Section 3 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York's public university systems are unique in their size and stat-
ure. In Fall 2021, there were a total of 326,010 undergraduate students
on State University of New York campuses and an estimated 243,000 under-
graduates on City University of New York campuses. Many of these
students live on their respective campuses and choose to register as
voters in the community they expect to be a part of for a significant
period of their lives.

However, many campuses are in areas of our state that are restricted
geographically. This makes it very difficult for registrants who live
on-campus to access polling places in off-campus areas in which they are
not completely familiarized. In addition, it remains difficult for
students who don't have vehicles on campus to exercise their right to
vote in the absence of robust public transportation systems statewide.

This legislation would ensure that students across New York State can
exercise one of our most sacred rights, the right to vote, regardless of
where they choose to attend school.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: A8783-Referred to Election Law

2021-22: A4179-Referred to Election Law

2023-24: A34-Referred to Election Law

2025-25: A2554-Referred to Election Law

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7961--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FAHY  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections  --  recommitted
   to the Committee on Elections in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8
   --  committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
   and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the election law, in  relation  to  designating  certain
   state university campuses as early voting sites and polling sites
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 4-104 of the election law is amended  by  adding  a
 new subdivision 5-b to read as follows:
   5-B.  WHENEVER  A  CAMPUS WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
 NEW YORK AND HAS AN ENROLLMENT OF AT LEAST SIXTEEN THOUSAND STUDENTS AND
 AN ON CAMPUS DORMITORY, A POLLING PLACE DESIGNATED  FOR  REGISTRANTS  ON
 SUCH CAMPUS SHALL BE AT A LOCATION APPROVED BY SUCH COLLEGE OR UNIVERSI-
 TY;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL
 NOT APPLY WHERE A POLLING PLACE IS ALREADY DESIGNATED WITHIN ONE MILE OF
 THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF SUCH CAMPUS.
   § 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 8-606 to read
 as follows:
   § 8-606. EARLY VOTING ON STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. EACH CAMPUS  WHICH
 IS OPERATED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND WHICH HAS AN ENROLL-
 MENT  OF  AT  LEAST SIXTEEN THOUSAND STUDENTS AND AN ON CAMPUS DORMITORY
 SHALL HAVE AN EARLY VOTING SITE ON SUCH CAMPUS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,  THAT
 THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY WHERE AN EARLY VOTING
 SITE IS ALREADY DESIGNATED WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE GEOGRAPHIC  BOUNDARIES
 OF SUCH CAMPUS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01159-05-6

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Senate Bill S7961A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S7961 - Details

2025-S7961 - Summary

2025-S7961 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7961 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Patricia Fahy

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S7961 - Details

2025-S7961 - Summary

2025-S7961 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7961 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7961A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments