STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3218
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to removing the require-
ment that party emblems be included in ballot design
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 18 of section 1-104 of the election law, as
2 amended by chapter 181 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 18. The word "ballot" when referring to voting machines or systems
5 means that portion of the cardboard or paper or other material or elec-
6 tronic display within the ballot frame containing the name of the candi-
7 date and [the emblem of] the party organization by which he was nomi-
8 nated, of the form of submission of a proposed constitutional amendment,
9 proposition referendum or question as provided in this chapter, with the
10 word "yes" for voting for any question or the word "no" for voting
11 against any question except that where the question or proposition is
12 submitted only to the voters of a territory wholly within a county or
13 city, such form shall be determined by the county board of elections.
14 Such statement and the title shall be printed and/or displayed in the
15 largest type or display which it is practicable to use in the space
16 provided.
17 § 2. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 2-124 of the election law, subdi-
18 vision 2 as amended by chapter 9 of the laws of 1978, are amended to
19 read as follows:
20 1. The state committee of a party shall select a name [and emblem] to
21 distinguish the candidates of the party for public office in all
22 districts of the state, and shall file in the office of the state board
23 of elections, a certificate executed by its chairman and secretary,
24 setting forth the name [and showing the emblem so selected].
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00829-01-5
A. 3218 2
1 2. The name of a party shall be in the English language and shall not
2 include the words "American", "United States", "National", "New York
3 State", "Empire State", or any abbreviation thereof, nor the name or
4 part of the name, or an abbreviation of the name, of an existing party.
5 [The emblem chosen may be a star, an animal, an anchor, or any other
6 proper symbol, but may not be the same as or similar to any emblem,
7 insignia, symbol or flag used by any political or governmental body,
8 agency or entity nor any religious emblem, insignia, symbol or flag, nor
9 the portrait of any person, nor the representation of a coin or of the
10 currency of the United States.] The name [and emblem] chosen shall not
11 be similar to or likely to create confusion with the name [or emblem] of
12 any other existing party or independent body.
13 § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 4-112 of the election law, as amended by
14 chapter 4 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
15 1. The state board of elections not later than thirty-six days before
16 a general election, or fifty-three days before a special election, shall
17 certify to each county board of elections the name and residence of each
18 candidate nominated in any valid certificate filed with it or by the
19 returns canvassed by it, the title of the office for which nominated;
20 the name of the party or body specified of which he is a candidate; [the
21 emblem chosen to distinguish the candidates of the party or body;] and a
22 notation as to whether or not any litigation is pending concerning the
23 candidacy. Upon the completion of any such litigation, the state board
24 of elections shall forthwith notify the appropriate county boards of
25 elections of the results of such litigation.
26 § 4. Subdivision 1 of section 6-128 of the election law is amended to
27 read as follows:
28 1. When an independent body becomes a party at a general election by
29 qualifying under the requirements set by law, nominations shall, prior
30 to and including the first general election thereafter, be made as
31 provided by the rules of such party. A certificate of such nominations
32 shall contain:
33 (a) The name of the party filing the nominations.
34 (b) The title of the office for which the nomination is made and the
35 name and residence address of the person so nominated.
36 (c) The names of the members of the committee, if any, appointed to
37 fill vacancies in nominations.
38 (d) [A description and representation of the party's emblem.
39 (e)] The name of the committee making the nomination.
40 [(f)] (e) A certified copy of the party rules describing the rule-mak-
41 ing body and nomination process.
42 [(g)] (f) An affidavit containing a statement by the presiding officer
43 and secretary of the committee that they are such officers and the
44 statements in the certificate are true.
45 § 5. Subdivision 3 of section 6-138 of the election law, as amended by
46 chapter 305 of the laws of 1992, paragraph a as amended by chapter 306
47 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
48 3. a. The name selected for the independent body making the nomination
49 shall be in English characters and shall not include the name or part of
50 the name or an abbreviation of the name or part of the name, nor shall
51 the [emblem or] name be of such a configuration as to create the possi-
52 bility of confusion with the [emblem or] name of a then existing party,
53 or the [emblem or] name of an independent body selected by a previously
54 filed independent nominating petition for the same office.
55 b. Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph a of this subdivi-
56 sion, if the [emblem or] name selected for an independent body on any
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1 independent nominating petition is the same as that selected by any
2 previously filed independent nominating petition for the same office,
3 the board of elections with which such later petition was filed shall,
4 not later than two days after the filing of such later filed petition,
5 send notice of such duplicate selection of [emblem or] name by first-
6 class mail, to the candidate for such office who was nominated by such
7 later filed petition, and that the candidate to whom such notice is
8 required to be sent may file with such board of elections, not later
9 than seven days after such notice was mailed, a certificate selecting a
10 different [emblem or] name.
11 c. A person who has been nominated or who expects to be nominated as
12 the candidate of an independent body for the office of President of the
13 United States at any election for such office may, not later than three
14 days after the last day to file nominating petitions, file with the
15 state board of elections, a special certificate which shall be irrev-
16 ocable, stating that such person does not wish to permit candidates for
17 any other office, except the office of Vice-President of the United
18 States, to appear on the ballot with the same name [and emblem] as the
19 independent body which has nominated or will nominate such candidate for
20 the office of President.
21 d. Not later than seven days after the last day to file nominating
22 petitions, the state board of elections shall notify each local board of
23 elections of the name of each candidate for President of the United
24 States who has filed such a special certificate, together with the name
25 [and emblem] of the independent body selected on the petition which
26 nominated such candidate.
27 e. If any candidate has been nominated for any other office by a peti-
28 tion which selected the same name [or emblem] for an independent body as
29 the name [or emblem] selected on the petition which nominated a candi-
30 date for President of the United States who has filed a special certif-
31 icate pursuant to paragraph c of this subdivision, the board of
32 elections with which the petition nominating such candidate for such
33 other office was filed shall, not later than ten days after the last day
34 to file nominating petitions, send to each such candidate, by first
35 class mail, notice that a special certificate pursuant to paragraph c of
36 this subdivision has been filed and that the candidate to whom such
37 notice is sent may file with such board of elections, not later than
38 seven days after such notice was mailed, a certificate selecting a
39 different name [and emblem].
40 f. If [such a petition shall not show an emblem, or if] the petition
41 shall fail to select a name for such independent body, or if pursuant to
42 the provisions of paragraph b or paragraph e of this subdivision, a
43 candidate shall fail to select another [emblem or] name for such inde-
44 pendent body, the officer or board in whose office the petition is filed
45 shall select [an emblem or] a name [or both] to distinguish the candi-
46 dates nominated thereby. The name [and emblem] shown upon such petition
47 or selected by a candidate authorized to make such selection by para-
48 graph b or paragraph e of this subdivision, or selected by an officer or
49 board shall also conform to the requirements of this chapter with
50 respect to names [or emblems] permitted to be selected by a party.
51 g. Nothing contained in this subdivision shall preclude a court of
52 competent jurisdiction from rejecting an independent nominating petition
53 if the court determines that fraud was involved in the selection of a
54 name [or emblem].
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1 § 6. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 6-140 of the election
2 law, as amended by chapter 235 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read
3 as follows:
4 a. Each sheet of an independent nominating petition shall be signed in
5 ink, shall contain the following information and shall be in substan-
6 tially the following form:
7 I, the undersigned, do hereby state that I am a registered voter of
8 the political unit for which a nomination for public office is hereby
9 being made, that my present place of residence is truly stated opposite
10 my signature hereto, and that I do hereby nominate the following named
11 person (or persons) as a candidate (or as candidates) for election to
12 public office (or public offices) to be voted for at the election to be
13 held on the ............ day of ................, 20...., and that I
14 select the name ............................ (fill in name) as the name
15 of the independent body making the nomination (or nominations) [and
16 ................ (fill in emblem) as the emblem of such body].
17 Place of residence
18 (also post office
19 Name of Public address
20 Candidate Office if not identical)
21 .......... ................. ..........................
22 .......... ................. ..........................
23 I do hereby appoint ............................. (here insert the names
24 and addresses of at least three persons, all of whom shall be registered
25 voters within such political unit), as a committee to fill vacancies in
26 accordance with the provisions of the election law.
27 In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, the day and year
28 placed opposite my signature.
29 Date Name of Signer Residence
30 ...... ................ .......................
31 ...... ................ .......................
32 Town or city (except
33 in the city of New
34 York, the county)
.......................
.......................
35 § 7. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 6-206 of the election law, subdi-
36 vision 1 as amended by chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, and subdivision
37 3 as added by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, are amended to read as
38 follows:
39 1. Independent nominations for elective village offices shall be made
40 by a petition containing the signatures in ink of residents of the
41 village who are registered with the appropriate county board of
42 elections at the time of signing. The sheets of such a petition shall be
43 numbered. A signer need not himself or herself fill in the date or resi-
44 dence. Each sheet of such petition must be in substantially the follow-
45 ing form and shall contain all the information required therein:
46 VILLAGE INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITION
47 I, the undersigned, do hereby state that I am a registered voter of
48 the Village of......., that my present place of residence is truly stat-
49 ed opposite my signature, and I do hereby nominate the following named
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1 person (or persons) as a candidate (or as candidates) for election to
2 public office (or public offices) to be voted for at the election to be
3 held on the.....day of........, 20....., and that I select the
4 name........... (fill in name) as the name of the independent body
5 making the nomination (or nominations) [and.....(fill in emblem) as the
6 emblem of such body].
7 Name of
8 Candidate Public Office Term Residence
9 ............. .................... .... ...............
10 ............. .................... .... ...............
11 I do hereby appoint (insert names and addresses of at least three
12 persons, all of whom shall be registered voters within such village) as
13 a committee to fill vacancies in accordance with the provisions of the
14 election law.
15 In witness whereof, I have signed this petition on the day and year
16 stated before my signature.
17 Date Signature Residence
18 .......... ................. ...................
19 .......... ................. ...................
20 STATEMENT OF WITNESS
21 I, ..................... state that I am a duly qualified voter and
22 now reside at ...................... (residence address) in the Village
23 of ................ in the State of New York in the County of
24 ................. . Each of the voters whose names are subscribed to
25 this petition sheet containing ................ (fill in number) signa-
26 tures, subscribed his or her name in my presence.
27 I understand that this statement will be accepted for all purposes as
28 the equivalent of an affidavit and, if it contains a material false
29 statement, shall subject me to the same penalties as if I had been duly
30 sworn.
31 ....................... ..............................
32 Date Signature of witness
33 3. The name selected for the independent body making the nomination
34 shall be in the English language and shall not include the name or part
35 of the name, or an abbreviation of the name or of part of the name, of a
36 then existing party. The name [and emblem] shown upon such petition
37 shall conform to the requirements of this chapter, relating to party
38 names [and party emblems]. If [such a petition shall not show an emblem,
39 or] the petition shall fail to select a name for such independent body,
40 the board of elections shall select [an emblem or] a name, [or both] to
41 distinguish the candidates nominated thereby.
42 § 8. Subdivision 4 of section 15-108 of the election law, as amended
43 by chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
44 4. Independent nominations for elective village offices shall be made
45 by a petition containing the signatures in ink of residents of the
46 village who are registered with the appropriate county board of
47 elections at the time of signing or who are residents of the village who
48 were on the list of registered voters for the last village election in
49 such village. The sheets of such a petition shall be numbered. Such
50 petition must set forth in each instance the correct date of signing,
51 the name of the signer and his or her present address, and may set forth
52 a committee to fill vacancies consisting of at least three persons qual-
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1 ified to vote in the village election and their residence within the
2 village. A signer need not himself or herself fill in the date or resi-
3 dence. Each sheet of such petition must be in substantially the follow-
4 ing form and shall contain all the information required therein except
5 as may otherwise be permitted by law.
6 VILLAGE INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITION
7 I, the undersigned, do hereby state that I am a registered voter of
8 the Village of .........., that my present place of residence is truly
9 stated opposite my signature, and I do hereby nominate the following
10 named person (or persons) as a candidate (or as candidates) for election
11 to public office (or public offices) to be voted for at the election to
12 be held on the ..... day of ........, 20....., and that I select the
13 name .............. (fill in name) as the name of the independent body
14 making the nomination (or nominations) [and ..... (fill in emblem) as
15 the emblem of such body].
16 Name of Candidate Public Office Term Residence
17 .................... ................. ........ .................
18 .................... ................. ........ .................
19 I do hereby appoint _ _ _ _
20 Name Residence
21 ............................. .................................
22 ............................. .................................
23 as a committee to fill vacancies in accordance with the provisions of
24 the election law.
25 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this petition on the day and year
26 stated before my signature.
27 Date Signature Residence
28 ............. ................. ...............
29 ............. ................. ...............
30 STATEMENT OF WITNESS
31 I, ............... state that I am a duly qualified voter and now
32 reside at ............. (residence address) in the Village
33 of ........... in the State of New York in the County of ........ . Each
34 of the voters whose names are subscribed to this petition sheet,
35 containing ........ (fill in number) signatures, subscribed his or her
36 name in my presence.
37 I understand that this statement will be accepted for all purposes as
38 the equivalent of an affidavit and, if it contains a material false
39 statement, shall subject me to the same penalties as if I had been duly
40 sworn.
41 Date .................... ...........................
42 Signature of Witness
43 § 9. Subdivision 1 of section 16-104 of the election law is amended to
44 read as follows:
45 1. The form and content of any ballot, or portion thereof, to be used
46 in an election, and the right to use any [emblem design,] color, party
A. 3218 7
1 or independent body name, may be contested in a proceeding instituted in
2 the supreme court by any aggrieved candidate or by the chairman of any
3 party committee or independent body.
4 § 10. This act shall take effect immediately.
