A07804 Summary:
| BILL NO | A07804 |
| SAME AS | SAME AS S00923 |
| SPONSOR | Walker |
| COSPNSR | Jacobson |
| MLTSPNSR | |
| Add §5-312, El L | |
| Changes party enrollment of voters where the enrolled party contained the word "Independence" or "Independent" to not being enrolled in any party. | |
A07804 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the election law, in relation to changing party enroll- ment of voters where the enrolled party contained the word "Independ- ence" or "Independent" PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To automatically change the voter enrollment of individuals who are currently enrolled in a political party that includes the words 'Inde- pendence' or 'Independent.' Said individuals will be unenrolled from any political party. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1: Amends the election law by adding section 5-312 which states that any person enrolled in a party which includes the words 'Independ- ence' or 'Independent' shall have their voter enrollment changed so that they are not enrolled in any party. Section 2: Sets the effective date. JUSTIFICATION: Chapter 671 of 2022 prohibits a state party from using the word "Inde- pendent" or "Independence" in its name. Evidence suggested that many voters who were registered as members of the Independence Party did not realize they were registered in the Party; they intended to register as independent (i.e. unaffiliated) voters but were confused by the name of the Independence Party. This new bill will move all voters who remain enrolled in the now-de- funct Independence Party or other defunct party with "Independent" or "Independence" in its name to the unaffiliated/blank rolls. It is important to note that unlike voters who remain registered in parties such as the Libertarian party, Women's Equality Party, and others that have lost ballot access, the Independence Party is unique since it is now prohibited from regaining its ballot status, distin- guishing' it from other parties that still have the potential to restore their ballot access. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2023-2024: A9567 - Referred to Election Law FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:; None. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.