Senate Bill S8644

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to the state board of elections creating uniform ballots for early mail, absentee, military and special voters who vote by mail; repealer

download bill text pdf

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

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 07, 2026	referred to elections

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§7-119, 7-122, 7-123, 7-124 & 7-125, add §§7-132 & 8-318, rpld §§8-408 & 8-706, El L; amd §1057-hh, NYC Chart

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the state board of elections creating uniform ballots for early mail, absentee, military and special voters who vote by mail; creates an electronic mail ballot application transmittal system; repeals certain provisions of the election law.

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8644

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law and the New York city charter, in
relation to the state board of elections creating uniform ballots for
early mail, absentee, military and special voters who vote by mail; and
to repeal certain provisions of the election law relating thereto

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To establish a single, statewide ballot format and a single, statewide
inner affirmation envelope and oath for all early-mail, absentee, mili-
tary, special federal, and special presidential voters, and to create a
unified online application system for all mail-ballot types.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

The bill replaces the multiple, inconsistent statutory ballot and envel-
ope formats currently used for different categories of voters who cast
ballots by mail. It directs the State Board of Elections (SBOE) to

prescribe one uniform ballot format and one uniform inner affirmation
envelope, including a standard oath, for all mail-ballot voters. It
authorizes alternate envelopes when required by federal law. The bill
also establishes a statewide online application system that allows
voters to request any type of mail ballot electronically, with inte-
grated electronic signatures, language access, and accessibility
features. Sections 8-408 and 8-706 are repealed and replaced with a new
§ 8-318 governing statewide electronic transmittal of applications.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York's current mail-ballot system uses several different statutory
envelope formats, oath texts, and ballot layouts depending on a voter's
classification. This patchwork makes compliance harder for boards of
elections, complicates vendor contracts, increases printing costs, and
contributes to processing delays and voter errors. The detailed statuto-
ry templates also conflict with federal requirements for certain voters,
leading to inconsistent work-arounds rather than a coherent statewide
system.

This bill modernizes the system by giving SBOE clear authority to stand-
ardize all core components of mail-balloting. A single statewide ballot
format and a single uniform inner affirmation envelope will reduce
confusion, streamline training, and ensure that every voter interacts
with the same basic materials regardless of the category under which
they qualify to vote by mail. Centralizing design authority at the state
level also improves compliance with federal law, including UOCAVA, by
allowing alternate envelopes only when required.

The bill further strengthens voter access by establishing a statewide
online application portal for early mail, absentee, military, and
special federal or presidential ballots. This system will allow elec-
tronic signatures, ensure language access, and provide improved accessi-
bility for voters with disabilities, while reducing administrative
burden on county boards.


Uniformity, clarity, and modernized application systems will improve
election administration, reduce voter errors, and provide a consistent
and reliable process for all voters who cast ballots by mail.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

There may be minimal upfront costs at the State Board, but this bill
will reduce long-term printing, procurement, and administrative costs
for county boards of elections.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act takes effect immediately.

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8644
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 7, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  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  New  York  city  charter,  in
   relation  to the state board of elections creating uniform ballots for
   early mail, absentee, military and special voters who  vote  by  mail;
   and to repeal certain provisions of the election law relating thereto
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1, subdivision 3 and  subdivi-
 sion  6 of section 7-119 of the election law, as added by chapter 481 of
 the laws of 2023, are amended to read as follows:
   (a) Ballots for early mail voters shall be, as nearly as  practicable,
 in  the  same form as those to be voted in the district on election day,
 except that such ballots need not have a stub[, and shall have the words
 "Early Mail Ballot", endorsed thereon].
   3. There shall be three envelopes for each early mail ballot issued by
 mail: the inner affirmation envelope into which  a  voter  places  their
 voted  ballot,  the outer envelope which shall be addressed to the early
 mail voter, and the mailing envelope which is addressed  to  the  county
 board of elections. The board of elections shall furnish with each early
 mail  ballot  an  inner  affirmation envelope IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION
 7-132 OF THIS TITLE. [On one side of the envelope shall be printed:
                        OFFICIAL EARLY MAIL BALLOT
                                    for
                 GENERAL (OR PRIMARY OR SPECIAL) ELECTION,

  ..........., 20.......

 Name of voter ..................
 Residence (street and number if any) ..............
 City/or town of (village, if any) .................
 County of ...............................

 Assembly District ......................

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

                                                            LBD14122-01-5
 S. 8644                             2

 Legislative District (as applicable) ..........
 Ward (as applicable) .....................
 Election District ....................
 Party Enrollment (in case of primary election) ....................]
 
   6.  [On the] THE reverse side of such inner affirmation envelope shall
 be [printed the following statement:

                                AFFIRMATION

   I do declare that I am a citizen of the United States, that I am  duly
 registered  in  the  election district shown on the reverse side of this
 envelope and I am qualified to vote in such district; that  I  have  not
 qualified  nor  do I intend to vote elsewhere, that I have not committed
 any act nor am I under any impediment which denies me the right to vote.
   I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
 my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I  make  any  material
 false  statement in the foregoing statement of early mail voter, I shall
 be guilty of a misdemeanor.

 Date ............... 20 ................

                                              ..........................
                                              Signature or mark of voter

                                              ..........................
                                              Signature of Witness
                                              (required only if voter
                                              does not sign their own
                                              name)

                                              ..........................
                                              Address of Witness]
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
 
   § 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1, subdivision 3 and  subdivision  6
 of  section 7-122 of the election law, paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 as
 separately amended by chapter 615 of the laws of 2019, and subdivision 3
 and subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 411 of the  laws  of  2019,  are
 amended to read as follows:
   (a) Ballots for absentee voters shall be, as nearly as practicable, in
 the  same  form  as  those  to be voted in the district on election day,
 except that such ballots need not have a stub[, and shall have the words
 "Absentee Ballot", endorsed thereon].
   3. There shall be three envelopes for each absentee ballot  issued  by
 mail:  the  inner affirmation envelope into which a voter places [his or
 her] THEIR voted ballot, the outer envelope which shall be addressed  to
 the  absentee  voter, and the mailing envelope which is addressed to the
 county board of elections. The board of  elections  shall  furnish  with
 each  absentee  ballot  an inner affirmation envelope IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE. [On one  side  of  the  envelope  shall  be
 printed:

                         OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT
                                    for
                 GENERAL (OR PRIMARY OR SPECIAL) ELECTION,
 S. 8644                             3

  ........., 20.....
 Name of voter.........................................
 Residence (street and number if any)..................
 City/or town of.......(village, if any)...............
 County of.............................................
 Assembly district ....................................
 Legislative District (as applicable) .................
 Ward (as applicable) .................................
 Election District.....................................
 Party Enrollment (in case of primary election)........]
 
   6.  [On the] THE reverse side of such inner affirmation envelope shall
 be [printed the following statement:
                                AFFIRMATION
   I do declare that I am a citizen of the United States, that I am  duly
 registered  in  the  election district shown on the reverse side of this
 envelope and I am qualified to vote in such district;  that  I  will  be
 unable  to  appear  personally on the day of the election for which this
 ballot is voted at the polling place of the election district in which I
 am a qualified voter because of the reason given on my application here-
 tofore submitted; that I have not qualified nor  do  I  intend  to  vote
 elsewhere,  that  I have not committed any act nor am I under any imped-
 iment which denies me the right to vote.
   I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
 my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I  make  any  material
 false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be
 guilty of a misdemeanor.

 Date.................20.....       .....................................
                                    Signature or mark of voter

                                    .....................................
                                    Signature of Witness (required only
                                    if voter does not sign his or her own
                                    name)

                                    .....................................
                                    Address of Witness]
 
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
   §  3. Subdivision e of section 1057-hh of the New York city charter as
 added by local law number 11 of the city of New York for the year  2022,
 is amended to read as follows:
   e.  Section  7-122 of the election law shall apply to absentee ballots
 and municipal absentee ballots mailed to municipal voters[, except  that
 the  affirmation of United States citizenship in subdivision six of such
 section shall not apply to an inner affirmation envelope  included  with
 an absentee ballot or municipal absentee ballot distributed to a munici-
 pal  voter]  and shall [be replaced with] INCLUDE an affirmation stating
 that the undersigned is qualified to vote under this chapter.
   § 4. Subdivisions 3, 4, 5, and 7 of section 7-123 of the election law,
 subdivisions 3 and 4 as amended and subdivisions 5 and  7  as  added  by
 chapter 104 of the laws of 2010 and the opening paragraph of subdivision
 3  as amended by chapter 411 of the laws of 2019, are amended to read as
 follows:
 S. 8644                             4
 
   3. There shall be three envelopes for each  military  absentee  ballot
 issued  when the military voter's preferred method of transmission is by
 mail: the inner affirmation envelope into which a voter places  [his  or
 her]  THEIR voted ballot, the outer envelope which shall be addressed to
 the  absentee  voter, and the mailing envelope which is addressed to the
 county board of elections. The board of elections shall furnish an inner
 affirmation envelope [with each  military  ballot  upon  which  envelope
 shall be printed:

                         BALLOT FOR MILITARY VOTER
                                AFFIRMATION

   I swear or affirm that:
   (a)  I  am  a  member  of the uniformed services or merchant marine on
 active duty or an eligible spouse, parent, child or dependent of such  a
 member, and
   (b)  I  am a United States citizen, at least eighteen years of age (or
 will be by the day of the election), eligible to vote in  the  requested
 jurisdiction, and
   (c)  I  have neither been convicted of a felony or other disqualifying
 offense nor been adjudicated mentally incompetent, or if so,  my  voting
 rights have been reinstated, and
   (d)  I am not registering, requesting a ballot, or voting in any other
 jurisdiction in the United States, and
   (e) My signature and date below indicate when I completed  this  docu-
 ment, and
   (f)  The  information on this form is true and complete to the best of
 my knowledge.
   I understand that a material misstatement of fact in the completion of
 this document may constitute grounds for conviction of a crime.

 Date .......... 20....
                                         ................................
                                             Signature or mark of voter
                                         ................................
                                          Signature of Witness (required
                                          only if voter does not sign his
                                                     or her own name)
                                         ................................
                                                  Address of Witness]
 
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
   4. [On the] THE reverse side of the inner affirmation  envelope  shall
 be [printed:

                TO BE FILLED IN BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS:

   FOR..........ELECTION......... 20......
   County of................................................................
   Name of voter............................................................
   Voting residence (street and number, if any).............................
   City (or town) of..............Ward......................................
   Assembly District..............Election District.........................
   Party Enrollment (in case of primary election)...........................
 S. 8644                             5

   IMPORTANT  TO  MILITARY  VOTER:  YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
 ENVELOPE] IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   5. The information in subdivision four of this section shall be filled
 in  by  the  board of elections IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS
 TITLE prior to the mailing of any military ballot and envelopes  if  the
 military  voter's  preferred  method  of  transmission with the board of
 elections is by mail, or it may be filled in by the board  of  elections
 upon  the receipt of the returned military ballot and envelope where the
 ballot and envelope have been transmitted to the  military  voter  other
 than by mail or in person.
   7.  If a military voter has designated a preference to receive [his or
 her] THEIR ballot by facsimile transmission or electronic mail  pursuant
 to  section  10-107  of  this  chapter, the transmission of the military
 voter's ballot shall include, together with all information and instruc-
 tional materials that accompany ballot materials sent by  the  board  of
 elections  to  other absentee voters, appropriate instructions as to the
 folding of same so as to create an inner affirmation envelope containing
 all of the information set forth in subdivisions three, four and six  of
 this section AND SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
   §  5. Subdivision f of section 1057-hh of the New York city charter as
 added by local law number 11 of the city of New York for the year  2022,
 is amended to read as follows:
   f.  The  board  of  elections  in the city of New York may prescribe a
 separate absentee ballot for military voters who  are  municipal  voters
 consistent  with  section  7-123 of the election law, but [omitting the]
 otherwise [required affirmation of United States citizenship and replac-
 ing it with] REQUIRE an affirmation that the military  voter  meets  the
 qualifications of a municipal voter under this chapter.
   §  6.  Subdivisions  1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 of section 7-124 of the election
 law, subdivisions 1, 2 and 4 as amended and subdivision 6  as  added  by
 chapter  104  of the laws of 2010 and the opening and closing paragraphs
 of subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 411 of  the  laws  of  2019,  are
 amended to read as follows:
   1. The ballots for special federal voters shall provide for voting for
 presidential  and  vice-presidential  electors,  United  States senator,
 representative in congress, and delegates and alternate delegates  to  a
 national  convention  only  and  shall be in the form prescribed by this
 chapter for absentee ballots[, except that on either the  front  or  the
 back  of  the  ballot  shall  be  printed or stamped the words "Official
 Ballot--Special Federal Voter", provided, however, that at any  election
 at  which  special federal voters may vote for all the offices and posi-
 tions on the ballot, no such separate ballot shall be  printed  and  the
 ballot  for  special  federal  voters  shall  be  the same as the ballot
 provided to absentee voters in such election].
   2. There shall be three envelopes for each  special  federal  absentee
 ballot issued by mail: the inner affirmation envelope into which a voter
 places  [his  or her] THEIR voted ballot, the outer envelope which shall
 be addressed to the absentee voter, and the mailing  envelope  which  is
 addressed to the county board of elections. The board of elections shall
 furnish  an  inner affirmation envelope with each special federal ballot
 [upon which envelope shall be printed:
   I swear or affirm that:
   (a) I am a United States citizen residing outside the  United  States,
 and
   (b)  I am at least eighteen years of age (or will be by the day of the
 election), eligible to vote in the requested jurisdiction, and
 S. 8644                             6

   (c) I have neither been convicted of a felony or  other  disqualifying
 offense  nor  been adjudicated mentally incompetent, or if so, my voting
 rights have been reinstated, and
   (d)  I  am not qualified to register, request a ballot, or vote in any
 other jurisdiction in the United States, and
   (e) My signature and date below indicate when I completed  this  docu-
 ment, and
   (f)  The  information on this form is true and complete to the best of
 my knowledge.
   I understand that a material misstatement of fact in the completion of
 this document may constitute grounds for conviction of a crime.

 Date.................20.....       .....................................
                                    Signature or mark of voter

                                    .....................................
                                    Signature of Witness (required only
                                    if voter does not sign his or her own
                                    name)

                                    .....................................
                                    Address of Witness]
 
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
   3. [On the] THE reverse side of the inner affirmation  envelope  shall
 be [printed:

                 TO BE FILLED IN BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

 FOR..........ELECTION......... 20......

 Name of voter ..........................................................
 Residence from which vote is being cast:
   Street and number ....................................................
   City or town .........................................................
   County ...............................................................
   Assembly District or Ward ............................................
   Election District ....................................................
   Party Enrollment (in case of primary election) .......................

   IMPORTANT  TO  SPECIAL FEDERAL VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON
 THIS ENVELOPE] IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
   4. The information in subdivision  three  of  this  section  shall  be
 filled  in by the board of elections IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF
 THIS TITLE prior to the mailing of any special federal ballot and envel-
 opes if the special federal voter's  preferred  method  of  transmission
 with  the  board  of elections is by mail, or it may be filled in by the
 board of elections upon receipt of the returned special  federal  ballot
 and  envelope  when the ballot and envelope have been transmitted to the
 special federal voter other than by mail or in person.
   6. If a special federal voter has designated a preference  to  receive
 [his  or  her] THEIR ballot by facsimile transmission or electronic mail
 pursuant to section 11-203 of this  chapter,  the  transmission  of  the
 special federal voter's ballot shall include, together with all informa-
 tion and instructional materials that accompany ballot materials sent by
 the   board   of   elections   to  other  absentee  voters,  appropriate
 S. 8644                             7
 
 instructions as to the folding of same  so  as  to  create  an  envelope
 containing  all  of the information set forth in subdivisions two, three
 and five of this section AND SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
   §  7.  Subdivisions  1,  2 and 3 of section 7-125 of the election law,
 subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 259 of the laws of 1991, and  subdi-
 visions  2  and  3  as  amended  by chapter 411 of the laws of 2019, are
 amended to read as follows:
   1. The ballots for  special  presidential  voters  shall  provide  for
 voting for presidential and vice presidential electors only and shall be
 in  the form prescribed for absentee ballots[, except that either on the
 front or the back they shall be  endorsed  with  the  words  printed  or
 stamped,  "Official Ballot-Special Presidential Voter" and "Presidential
 Electors"].
   2. There shall be three envelopes for each special presidential absen-
 tee ballot issued by mail: the inner affirmation envelope into  which  a
 voter  places  [his or her] THEIR voted ballot, the outer envelope which
 shall be addressed to the absentee voter, and the mailing envelope which
 is addressed to the county board of elections. The  board  of  elections
 shall  furnish  with  each  special  presidential ballot an envelope  IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE. [On one side of the  envel-
 ope shall be printed:

               OFFICIAL BALLOT, SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTERS,
                           FOR GENERAL ELECTION,
                          NOVEMBER......., 20....

 Name of voter ..........................................................
 Residence from which vote is being cast:
 Street and number ......................................................
 City or town ...........................................................
 County .................................................................
 Assembly District or Ward ..............................................
 Election District ......................................................

   The  date of the election and name of the county shall be printed, and
 the name of the voter, residence, name of the city or  town,  number  of
 ward or assembly district, if any, and election district shall be print-
 ed, written or stamped in by the board.]
   3.    [On the] THE reverse side of such envelope shall be [printed the
 following statement:

                  STATEMENT OF SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTER

   I do declare I am a  qualified  special  presidential  voter  of  said
 district;  that  I  am  not qualified and am not able to qualify to vote
 elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I
 am a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the election  for
 which  this  ballot  is voted, I will be at least eighteen years of age;
 and that I have not committed any act, nor am I  under  any  impediment,
 which denies me the right to vote.
   I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
 my  knowledge  and  belief, and I understand that if I make any material
 false statement in the foregoing statement,  I  shall  be  guilty  of  a
 misdemeanor.
 S. 8644                             8

 Date.................20.....       .....................................
                                    Signature or mark of voter

                                    .....................................
                                    Signature of Witness (required only
                                    if voter does not sign his or her own
                                    name)

                                    .....................................
                                    Address of Witness]
 
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7-132 OF THIS TITLE.
   § 8. The election law is amended by adding a new section 7-132 to read
 as follows:
   §  7-132.  BALLOTS;  FORM  FOR  VOTERS  BY MAIL. 1. THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS SHALL PRESCRIBE A SINGLE, UNIFORM BALLOT FORM TO  BE  USED  BY
 EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL VOTERS WHO VOTE BY MAIL. SUCH
 BALLOT  SHALL  SATISFY  ALL  REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE
 UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE  VOTING  ACT  (52  U.S.C.  SEC.
 20302 ET SEQ.).
   2.  THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CREATE A UNIFORM INNER AFFIRMA-
 TION ENVELOPE, CONTAINING A UNIFORM OATH, TO BE USED BY COUNTY BOARDS OF
 ELECTION INTO WHICH EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY  AND  SPECIAL  VOTERS
 PLACE THEIR VOTED BALLOT. IN THE EVENT THAT SUCH ENVELOPE CONFLICTS WITH
 FEDERAL  LAW,  THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CREATE ALTERNATE INNER
 AFFIRMATION ENVELOPES IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL LAW.
   3. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS
 NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION. SUCH RULES  AND  REGU-
 LATIONS  SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, PROVISIONS THAT AUTHORIZE
 THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO:  STANDARDIZE  AND  FORMAT  THE  SINGLE,
 UNIFORM  BALLOT;  PROVIDE  SUCH  BALLOT  IN ANY LANGUAGE REQUIRED BY THE
 FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 (52 U.S.C. SEC.  10503);  AND  CONSULT
 WITH VENDORS TO ENSURE BALLOT UNIFORMITY.
   4. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS
 FOR  THE CREATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF A STATEWIDE ONLINE BALLOT APPLI-
 CATION SYSTEM FOR EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL VOTERS  WHO
 VOTE BY MAIL PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   5.  NOTHING  IN  THIS  SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO ALTER ELIGIBILITY
 REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS WHO VOTE BY MAIL.
   6. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE  DEEMED  TO  AUTHORIZE  THE  STATE
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  TO  CONTRAVENE THE UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS
 ABSENTEE VOTING ACT (52 U.S.C. SEC. 20302 ET SEQ.).
   § 9. Sections 8-408 and 8-706 of the election law are REPEALED  and  a
 new section 8-318 is added to read as follows:
   §  8-318.  BALLOTS;  ELECTRONIC  MAIL  BALLOT  APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
 SYSTEM. 1. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER MEANS OF APPLYING FOR AN EARLY MAIL,
 ABSENTEE, MILITARY  OR  SPECIAL  VOTERS'  BALLOT,  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL, ABSEN-
 TEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM
 THROUGH  WHICH  PERSONS  WHO  VOTE  BY MAIL MAY APPLY FOR AN EARLY MAIL,
 ABSENTEE, MILITARY OR SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT ONLINE. THE STATE BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  SHALL ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMIT SUCH APPLICATIONS TO THE APPLI-
 CABLE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF EACH COUNTY OR THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  FOR
 PROCESSING  CONSISTENT  WITH  THIS CHAPTER. IN ACCORDANCE WITH TECHNICAL
 SPECIFICATIONS PROVIDED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, EACH  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  SHALL  MAINTAIN AN EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL
 S. 8644                             9
 
 VOTERS' APPLICATION SYSTEM CAPABLE OF RECEIVING AND PROCESSING ELECTRON-
 IC EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL  VOTERS'  BALLOT  APPLICA-
 TIONS,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT LIMITED TO, ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES, FROM THE
 ELECTRONIC  EARLY  MAIL,  ABSENTEE,  MILITARY AND SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT
 APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION. SUCH TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM SHALL BE
 FULLY INTEGRATED WITH EACH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE CITY OF NEW
 YORK BOARD OF ELECTIONS SO THAT A VOTER MAY APPLY ONLINE DIRECTLY EITHER
 THROUGH THE WEBSITE OF THEIR BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS.    NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF THIS
 CHAPTER, APPLICATIONS FILED USING SUCH SYSTEM SHALL BE CONSIDERED  FILED
 WITH THE APPLICABLE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ON THE CALENDAR DATE THE APPLICA-
 TION  IS INITIALLY TRANSMITTED BY THE VOTER THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC EARLY
 MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT  APPLICATION  TRANS-
 MITTAL SYSTEM.
   2.  (A)  A  VOTER  SHALL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR AN EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE,
 MILITARY OR SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT USING A PERSONAL  ONLINE  APPLICATION
 SUBMITTED  THROUGH  THE  ELECTRONIC  EARLY  MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND
 SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM WHEN THE VOTER:
   (I) COMPLETES AN ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY OR  SPECIAL
 VOTERS'  BALLOT APPLICATION PROMULGATED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS;
 AND
   (II) AFFIRMS, SUBJECT TO PENALTY OF PERJURY, BY MEANS OF ELECTRONIC OR
 MANUAL SIGNATURE, THAT THE INFORMATION  CONTAINED  IN  THE  EARLY  MAIL,
 ABSENTEE, MILITARY OR SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT APPLICATION IS TRUE; AND
   (III)  CONSENTS  TO  THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S
 MANUAL SIGNATURE THAT IS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHI-
 CLES, THE STATE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,  OR  OTHER  AGENCY  DESIGNATED  BY
 SECTION  5-211 OR 5-212 OF THIS CHAPTER, AS THE INDIVIDUAL'S EARLY MAIL,
 ABSENTEE, MILITARY OR SPECIAL  VOTERS'  BALLOT  EXEMPLAR  SIGNATURE,  OR
 PROVIDES  SUCH  A  SIGNATURE  BY DIRECT UPLOAD IN A MANNER THAT COMPLIES
 WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE AND  RECORDS  ACT  AND  THE
 RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   (B)  THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE THE PERSONAL ONLINE EARLY
 MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT APPLICATION  IN  ANY
 LANGUAGE  REQUIRED  BY  THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 (52 U.S.C.
 SEC. 10503) IN ANY COUNTY IN THE STATE.
   (C) THE ONLINE EARLY MAIL,  ABSENTEE,  MILITARY  AND  SPECIAL  VOTERS'
 BALLOT  APPLICATION  PROCESS  SHALL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO
 IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SHALL BE COMPAT-
 IBLE FOR USE WITH STANDARD ONLINE  ACCESSIBILITY  ASSISTANCE  TOOLS  FOR
 PERSONS WITH VISUAL, PHYSICAL OR PERCEPTIVE DISABILITIES.
   (D)  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGU-
 LATIONS FOR THE CREATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF AN EARLY MAIL,  ABSENTEE,
 MILITARY  AND SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT APPLICATION SYSTEM PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION.
   3. (A) IF AN EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY OR SPECIAL VOTERS'  BALLOT
 EXEMPLAR  SIGNATURE IS NOT PROVIDED BY AN APPLICANT WHO SUBMITS AN EARLY
 MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY OR SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT APPLICATION  PURSUANT
 TO  THIS  SECTION,  THE  LOCAL  BOARD SHALL SEEK TO OBTAIN SUCH EXEMPLAR
 SIGNATURE FROM THE STATEWIDE  VOTER  REGISTRATION  DATABASE,  THE  STATE
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,  OR  A STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY DESIGNATED BY SECTION
 5-211 OR 5-212 OF THIS CHAPTER.
   (B) IF SUCH EXEMPLAR SIGNATURE IS NOT  AVAILABLE  FROM  THE  STATEWIDE
 VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE, THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, OR A STATE OR
 LOCAL  AGENCY  DESIGNATED BY SECTION 5-211 OR 5-212 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE
 S. 8644                            10
 
 LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL, ABSENT  ANOTHER  REASON  TO  REJECT  THE
 APPLICATION,  REQUIRE  THE VOTER TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPLAR SIGNATURE BY ANY
 ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS: IN PERSON, BY ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR BY ELEC-
 TRONIC  UPLOAD  TO  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC EARLY
 MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND SPECIAL VOTERS' BALLOT  APPLICATION  TRANS-
 MITTAL SYSTEM.
   (C)  IF  SUCH  VOTER DOES NOT PROVIDE THE REQUIRED EXEMPLAR SIGNATURE,
 THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE AN EARLY  MAIL,  ABSENTEE,
 MILITARY  OR  SPECIAL  VOTERS'  BALLOT  TO THE VOTER ALONG WITH AN EARLY
 MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY OR  SPECIAL  VOTERS'  BALLOT  APPLICATION  FORM
 REQUIRING  SUCH  VOTER  TO SUBMIT A SIGNATURE UPON SUCH APPLICATION FORM
 AND RETURN IT TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH THE VOTER'S BALLOT.
   4. THE ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL, ABSENTEE, MILITARY AND  SPECIAL  VOTERS'
 BALLOT  APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM  SHALL  BE COMBINED ON A SINGLE
 WEBSITE.
   § 10. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Find your Senator and share your views on important issues.

Do you support this bill?

Senate Bill S8644

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Actions

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Do you support this bill?

Get Status Alerts for 2025-S8644

Senate Bill S8644

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Rachel May

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Actions

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8644 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments