STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3962
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. REICHLIN-MELNICK -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to poll watchers for
special, town or village elections being held for the sole purpose of
a ballot proposal
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 8-500 of the election law, as
2 amended by chapter 418 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 1. At any general, special, town or village election, any party
5 committee, any independent body whose candidates are upon the ballot,
6 and when a special, town or village election is being held for the sole
7 purpose of a ballot proposal or proposals, the board of elections of the
8 county in which the election is being held, and any political committee
9 supporting or opposing a ballot proposal may have for each election
10 district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may
11 be within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by
12 the chair or other officer of any such party committee, independent body
13 [or], political committee or by the board of elections, upon request,
14 for a special, town or village election that is being held for the sole
15 purpose of a ballot proposal or proposals. In such elections, the board
16 of elections shall appoint watchers in a manner that ensures equitable
17 representation of organizations or individuals that are advocating the
18 passage or defeat of the ballot proposal or proposals.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
20 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
21 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
22 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
23 on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06089-01-1
