BILL NUMBER: S7962

SPONSOR: GONZALEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to candidate declination

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To amend the timeframe in which a candidate designated for multiple
party nominations in a general election may decline a nomination after a
primary election, reducing the current deadline from ten (10) days to
seven (7) days following certification of the primary election results.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 6 of section 6-146 of the
Election Law, originally added by Chapter 276 of the. Laws of 2021.  The
bill shortens the deadline by which a candidate who has been designated
for two or more party nominations but loses one or more of those prima-
ries may decline a nomination. The current law allows ten days after the
certification of the primary election; this bill reduces that period to
              

seven days.

Section 2 establishes that the act shall take effect immediately upon
enactment.

 
JUSTIFICATION:;

The electoral process will become more efficient because election offi-
cials can complete ballot preparation sooner when candidates have less
time to decline nominations. The proposed change would enable boards of
elections to finalize their administrative work and prepare general
election ballots without delays. The seven-day time limit under this
bill strikes a balance between candidate flexibility and election admin-
istration requirements.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.