NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4526
SPONSOR: Brennan (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 2 of the constitution, in
relation to early voting
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This resolution shall propose to
amend the state Constitution to allow for any voter to request to vote
by mail without declaring any reason for doing so.
 
JUSTIFICATION: Currently, the New York State Constitution only allows
absentee voting if a person expects to be absent from the county in
which they live, or the City of New York, or because of illness for
physical disability. As we have seen in the most recent election, many
states have allowed for alternate ways of voting, including mail in
voting without having to declare any reason for doing so. There is no
reason to prevent New Yorkers from doing so as well. By providing choic-
es, we give voters the opportunity to cast their ballot in whatever way
each finds most comfortable, whether that be in a voting booth on
election day, or in the comfort of their own home prior to election day.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2009-10 - A5099 In Election Law Committee
2011-12 - A5202 in Election Law Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
 
EFFECTIVE DATE: This bill provides for first passage of a constitu-
tional amendment.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4526
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRENNAN, LUPARDO, LAVINE, KELLNER, GOTTFRIED,
PAULIN, AUBRY, SIMOTAS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. JACOBS,
MAGEE, PERRY, STEVENSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Election Law
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 2 of the constitution, in
relation to early voting
1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 2 of article
2 2 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
3 § 2. The legislature may, by general law, provide a manner in which,
4 and the time and place at which, qualified voters who, on the occurrence
5 of any election, [may be absent from the county of their residence or,
6 if residents of the city of New York, from the city, and qualified
7 voters who, on the occurrence of any election, may be unable to appear
8 personally at the polling place because of illness or physical disabili-
9 ty, may vote and for the return and canvass of their votes] choose to
10 vote by mail may do so.
11 § 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be
12 referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
13 next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in
14 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
15 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89084-01-3